Electrode array apparatus, neurological condition detection apparatus, and method of using the same

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for measuring patient data includes a frame having a plurality of electrode hubs. Each hub can include one or more electrode members. The frame can be configured to receive a head of a patient. Each of the electrode hubs can have a single electrode member or a plurality of electrode members that extend from or are connected to an outer member for contacting a scalp of the head of the patient. The outer member can have at least one circuit configured to transmit data received by at least one of the electrode members to a measurement device via a wireless communication connection (e.g. Bluetooth, near field communication, etc.) or a wired communication connection.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Nos. 62/533,738 (filed on Jul. 18, 2017), 62/618,273 (filedon Jan. 17, 2018), and 62/648,559 (filed on Mar. 27, 2018). The entiretyof U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/648,559 is incorporated byreference herein.

FIELD

The present innovation relates to a novel device configured to utilizean array of electrodes on the head of a patient for assessing at leastone medical condition, electrodes, an array of electrodes, a process andapparatus for facilitating a desired alignment of electrodes on apatient, a process of utilizing an array of electrodes that arepositionable on the head of a patient, a process for selectingelectrodes of an array of electrodes to utilize for assessing at leastone medical condition, and combinations thereof.

BACKGROUND

A fabric headband in which electrodes are in fixed positions can be usedto position electrodes on the head of a patient. The electrodes areoften intended to be placed so they will fall in the positions describedin the 10/20 montage. Other headgear in which electrodes can be includedare disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2016/0235322and 2010/0036275. Electrode configurations and uses can also beappreciated from U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2016/0346534,2016/0287127, 2016/0144186, 2014/0142410, 2014/0243643, 2012/022349,2011/0245707, and 2010/0137708, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,742,831, 5,689,215,6,516,218, 7,367,956, 7,474,918, 7,616,980, 7,941,213, 8,265,736,8,444,559, and 8,663,121.

SUMMARY

An apparatus for measuring patient data for use in detection of aneurological condition and methods of making and using the same areprovided. In some embodiments of the apparatus, the apparatus caninclude an electrode array that includes a frame having a plurality ofelectrode hubs. The frame can be configured to receive a head of apatient so that the patient can wear the frame on the patient's head andelectrode members can be positioned on the patient's head so theelectrodes are in a desired arrangement on the patient's head when thepatient wears the frame. Each of the electrode hubs can have one or moreelectrode members extending from an outer member or a conductive memberfor contacting a scalp of the head of the patient. The outer member (orconductive member) can have at least one circuit configured to transmitdata received by at least one of the electrode members to a measurementdevice via a wireless communication connection (e.g. Bluetooth, nearfield communication, WI-FI connection, etc.) or a wired communicationconnection. In some embodiments, the outer member or the conductivemember is an upper wall of a chamber in which the electrode members aremoveable.

Methods of utilizing an array of electrodes and an apparatus fordetecting a neurological condition for providing care to a patient arealso provided. Embodiments of the method can include manipulation ofelectrode members or electrode hubs, selection of electrode data fortransmission and/or use, and detection of a condition via use of datareceived from electrode hubs positioned on the head of a patient.

In some embodiments, an apparatus for measuring patient data is providedthat includes a frame having a plurality of electrode hubs. The frame isconfigured to receive a head of a patient. Each of the electrode hubscan have at least one or more electrode members extending from orconnected to a housing for contacting a scalp of the head of thepatient. The housing can be attached to at least one circuit configuredto transmit data received by at least one electrode member to ameasurement device. Each hub can be configured such that one of:

-   -   (i) Each electrode member is moveably connected to the housing        of the hub such that electrode members of the hub are        independently moveable from an extended position at which distal        ends of the electrode members are contactable with the scalp to        a retracted position at which proximal ends of the electrode        members are contactable with a conductive member. The electrode        members can be moveable within a chamber from the extended        position at which the proximal ends are spaced apart from the        conductive member to the retracted positions at which the        proximal ends contact the conductive member. Each of the        electrode members can be moveable independent of the other        electrode members.    -   (ii) Each electrode member is a flexible body comprised of an        electrically conductive material extending from the housing to        conductively connect the scalp to the hub.    -   (iii) Each electrode member includes a flexible inner body        extending from the housing and an outer covering that coats the        inner body. The outer covering can be comprised of an        electrically conductive material that extends along the inner        body from a distal end of the inner body to a portion of the        housing to conductively connect the scalp to the hub.    -   (iv) Each electrode member has at least one channel defined        therein that is in communication with at least one discharge        hole defined in the electrode member and is also in fluid        communication with a cavity of the housing such that conductive        fluid material is passable from the cavity of the housing to        emit the conductive fluid material out of the at least one        discharge hole along a flow path via the at least one channel.    -   (v) Each electrode member is configured as a telescoping member        having a proximal portion attached to the outer member and a        distal portion that is moveable from an extended position to a        retracted position in response to pressure applied from the head        of the patient when the frame is positioned on the head of the        patient. Each of the telescoping members can be moveable        independent of the other telescoping members.

Embodiments of the apparatus can include the measurement device beingcommunicatively connectable to the electrode hubs as well as otherelements (e.g. a display, an electrode positioning facilitation device,etc.). The measurement device can be configured to select electrodemember data received from the electrode hubs to utilize for performing acomparison used to detect whether the patient had a stroke or a seizure.

The conductive member of at least some of the electrode hubs can includea selection circuit that is configured to select electrode member datato transmit to the measurement device. The conductive member can beconfigured as an outer member that defines the chamber in someembodiments.

Embodiments of the apparatus can include a configuration in which eachhub is configured such that each electrode member has the at least onechannel defined therein that is in communication with the at least onedischarge hole defined in the electrode member and is also in fluidcommunication with the cavity of the housing such that conductive fluidmaterial is passable from the cavity of the housing to emit theconductive fluid material out of the at least one discharge hole along aflow path via the at least one channel. For such embodiments, the atleast one channel can be positioned between an outer surface of theelectrode member and a conductor of the electrode member. Each suchchannel can be defined by a conduit member or other element (e.g.portion of an electrode member, etc.).

Embodiments of a method of detecting a condition of a patient caninclude positioning a headgear on a head of a patient to align an arrayof electrodes on the head; selecting electrode members of the array ofelectrodes to utilize for recording data relating to a body of thepatient responding to an evoked potential being passed through the bodyof the patient or a passive recording of electrical activity of a brainof the patient; collecting data recorded by the selected electrodemembers and transmitting at least a portion of that data to ameasurement device; and the measurement device comparing left-side datafrom electrode members positioned on a left side of the head toright-side data from electrode members positioned on a right side of thehead to determine whether the patient has experienced a stroke or aseizure.

In some embodiments of the method, the positioning of the headgear onthe head of the patient can occur such that some electrode members movein response to the head of the patient contacting the electrode members.The electrode members can move such that at least some of the electrodemembers move into contact with a conductive member of a hub to which theelectrode members are attached to form an electrically conductingcoupling with the conductive member for transmission of data sensed bythe electrode member. Such embodiments of the method can also includepassing the evoked potential through the body of the patient.

In some embodiments of the method, the electrode members can move suchthat at least one of the electrode members of each hub of the electrodemembers telescopingly retract in response to contact with hair oranother object on the head of the patient that prevents a distal end ofthat electrode member from contacting a scalp of the head of the patientso that other electrode members of the hub are not prevented fromcontacting the scalp. In some embodiments, the electrode members canflexibly move in response to contact with hair or another object on thehead of the patient so that distal ends of the electrode members arepassable through the hair or the other object to contact a scalp of thehead.

The electrode members can have different structures or configurations.In some embodiments, the electrode members are comprised of an innerbody extending from a conductive member and an outer covering, the outercovering comprising an electrically conductive material and the innerbody comprised of a polymeric material or elastomeric material.

The selecting of the electrode members of the array of electrodes toutilize for recording data relating to a body of the patient respondingto the evoked potential being passed through the body of the patient caninclude different steps. For instance, such selection can includeselecting pairs of corresponding electrode members having a bestimpedance match prior to passing the evoked potential through the bodyof the patient or selecting electrode members having a strongest signalafter passing the evoked potential through the body of the patient. Theselecting of the electrode members can occur via a selection circuitconnected to conductive members of the hubs prior to transmitting thecollected data to the measurement device. In some embodiments, themeasurement device can perform the selecting of the electrode membersprior to comparing the left-side data from electrode members positionedon the left side of the head to the right-side data from electrodemembers positioned on the right side of the head to determine whetherthe patient has experienced the stroke or the seizure.

The collecting of the data recorded by the selected electrode memberscan include different collecting steps. For instance, such collectingcan include sensing electrical activity of the brain of the patient andrecording data relating to the sensed electrical activity of the brain.

Embodiments of the method can include other steps. For instance,embodiments of the method can include actuating a flow of conductivefluid material from a cavity of a housing of at least one hub ofelectrodes of the headgear such that the conductive fluid materialpasses out of the cavity, through at least one channel defined in eachelectrode member attached to the housing and out of at least onedischarge hole defined in the electrode member so that the conductivefluid material is emitted out of the at least one discharge hole andflows along a scalp of the patient along a flow path. The actuating ofthe flow of the conductive fluid material can occur after the headgearis positioned on the head of the patient and prior to the collecting ofthe data occurring. In yet other embodiments, the conductive fluid canbe applied to the patient's scalp or on the electrode members prior topositioning of the headgear on a patient via an injection device. Theinjection device can be releaseably attached to the headgear and removedfor such use in response to assessing that at least some of theelectrode members or electrode hubs do not have a sufficient connectionto the patients' scalp for performing a test on the patient.

A device for the symmetrical placement of electrodes is also provided.The device can include headgear and an array of electrodes attached tothe headgear. A first strip can be positioned on an outer top surface ofthe headgear that extends from a front of the headgear to a rear of theheadgear. The first strip can define a centerline indicator. A secondstrip can be attached to the front of the headgear or the rear of theheadgear. The second strip can have a first end positioned adjacent aright side of the headgear and a second end positioned adjacent a leftside of the headgear. The second strip can extend linearly andhorizontally from the first end of the second strip to the second end ofthe second strip.

In some embodiments of the device, the second strip can be positionedadjacent the headgear such that the second strip is level as it extendshorizontally from the first end of the second strip to the second end ofthe second strip. A third strip can also be attached to the rear of theheadgear so it is on a side of the headgear opposite the second strip(e.g. the front of the headgear if the second strip is attached to therear of the headgear, the rear of the headgear if the second strip isattached to the front of the headgear, etc.). The third strip can have afirst end positioned adjacent a right side of the headgear and a secondend positioned adjacent a left side of the headgear. The third strip canextend linearly and horizontally from the first end of the third stripto the second end of the third strip. The first strip can have a firstcolor and the second strip can have a second color that is differentfrom the first color. The third strip, when present, can be a thirdcolor that is different from the first and second colors or can also bein the second color.

The first strip and the second strip can have different shapes. Forinstance, the first strip can have an arc shape and the second strip canbe rectangular shaped.

In some embodiments of the device, the second strip can be attached tothe headgear such that a midpoint of the second strip is positioned on afront end portion of the first strip or a rear end portion of the firststrip. The second strip can be attached to the headgear such that amidpoint of the second strip is positioned to be coincident to a centralportion of the headgear and is positioned above a nose of a patient whenthe headgear is positioned on a head of the patient.

Embodiments of a method for positioning electrodes is also provided thatinclude positioning headgear on a head of a patient so that electrodesattached to the headgear engage the head of the patient when theheadgear is on the head of the patient. A first strip can be positionedon an outer top surface of the headgear so that the first strip extendsfrom a front of the headgear to a rear of the headgear. A second stripcan be attached to the front of the headgear or the rear of theheadgear. The second strip can have a first end positioned adjacent aright side of the headgear and a second end positioned adjacent a leftside of the headgear. The second strip can extend linearly andhorizontally from the first end of the second strip to the second end ofthe second strip. The method can also include adjusting the headgearbased on how the first strip and the second strip appear to adjust theheadgear so that the first strip is centered on a top of the head of thepatient.

The second strip can be attached to the headgear such that a midpoint ofthe second strip is positioned on a front end portion of the first stripor a rear end portion of the first strip. The second strip can also beattached to the headgear such that a midpoint of the second strip ispositioned to be coincident to a central portion of the headgear and ispositioned above a nose of a patient when the headgear is positioned ona head of the patient. The second strip can be attached to the headgearsuch that a midpoint of the second strip is aligned with a front endportion of the first strip or a rear end portion of the first strip. Thesecond strip can be level as it extends from its first end to its secondend.

The adjusting of the headgear can include multiple different steps. Forexample, the adjusting of the headgear can include visually inspectingthe first strip and the second strip to determine whether the firststrip is at a central location on the head of the patient and moving theheadgear based on the visual inspection of the first strip and thesecond strip to center the first strip on the center of the head of thepatient. As another example, the adjusting of the headgear can includevisually inspecting the first strip and the second strip to determinewhether the first strip is at a central location on the head of thepatient and, in response to determining that the second strip isoff-center such that a midpoint along a length of the second strip iscloser to a right side of the patient as compared to a left side of thepatient, moving the headgear such that the midpoint is moved closer tothe left side of the patient to move the midpoint closer to the centrallocation. As yet another example, the adjusting can also includevisually inspecting the first strip and the second strip to determinewhether the first strip is at the central location after the headgear ismoved to move the midpoint closer to the left side of the patient and,in response to determining that the second strip is off-center such thatthe midpoint is closer to the left side of the patient as compared tothe right side of the patient, moving the headgear so that the midpointis moved closer to the right side of the patient to move the midpointcloser to the central location.

The second strip can include an indicator at a midpoint of the secondstrip along a length of the second strip that extends from the first endof the second strip to the second end of the second strip. Embodimentsof the method can include using the indicator to identify that thesecond strip is centrally positioned adjacent a patient's head toconfirm the first strip is centrally positioned on the head of thepatient. The indicator can be a visible dot, a protuberance on thesecond strip, or a recess defined in the second strip in someembodiments.

Embodiments of an electronic device are also provided. The electronicdevice can include a processor connected to non-transitory memory and ahousing. The processor and the memory can be within the housing. Arepresentation of a patient head can be defined on the housing with acenterline extending from a first side of the representation of thepatient head to a second side of the representation of the patient head.The representation of the patient head can also have a third sidebetween the first side and the second side and a fourth side between thefirst side and the second side. The fourth side can be opposite thethird side. A plurality of first light emitting devices (LEDs) can bepositioned on the housing inside the representation of the patient headso that the first LEDs are between the third side of the representationand the centerline. A plurality of second LEDs can be positioned on thehousing inside the representation of the patient head so that the secondLEDs are between the fourth side of the representation and thecenterline.

Each of the first LEDs can be associated with a respective firstelectrode of a first set of first electrodes that are connectable to theelectronic device and each of the second LEDs can be associated with arespective second electrode of a second set of second electrodesconnectable to the electronic device. Each of the first LEDs can beilluminatable in a first color in response to a signal that is at afirst pre-selected threshold being received from the first electrode ofthe first set of first electrodes associated with that first LED. Eachof the second LEDs can be illuminatable in the first color in responseto a signal that is at the first pre-selected threshold being receivedfrom the second electrode of the second set of second electrodesassociated with that second LED.

Each of the first LEDs can be illuminatable in a second color inresponse to a signal that is below the first pre-selected threshold andabove a second pre-selected threshold being received from the firstelectrode of the first set of first electrodes associated with thatfirst LED. Each of the second LEDs can also be illuminatable in thesecond color in response to a signal that is below the firstpre-selected threshold and above the second pre-selected threshold beingreceived from the second electrode of the second set of secondelectrodes associated with that second LED.

Each of the first LEDs can also be illuminatable in a third color inresponse to a signal that is below the second pre-selected thresholdbeing received from the first electrode of the first set of firstelectrodes associated with that first LED. Each of the second LEDs canbe illuminatable in the third color in response to a signal that isbelow the second pre-selected threshold being received from the secondelectrode of the second set of second electrodes associated with thatsecond LED. It should be appreciated that the first color can bedifferent from the second color and also different from the third colorand the third color can be different from the second color. In someembodiments, the first color can be green, the second color can beyellow, and the third color can be red. In other embodiments, othercolors could be utilized.

An electrode positioning indication map can be positioned on the housingthat includes a first line intersected by a second line positioned onthe housing to define a plurality of quadrants between the first lineand the second line. A plurality of third LEDs can be positioned on thehousing along the first line and a plurality of fourth LEDs can beposition on the housing along the second line. There can also be acentral fifth LED positioned on the housing at a central section atwhich the first line intersects the second line. There may also be aplurality of quadrant LEDs positioned on the housing in the quadrants.

The third LEDs and fourth LEDs can be are associated with electrodesthat are communicatively connectable to the electronic device and areconfigured to be illuminated to indicate a direction of positionaladjustment for the electrodes based on data the device receives from theelectrodes. The electrodes can be attached to headgear for positioningon a patient.

Embodiments of the electronic device can include a display connected tothe housing. The display can be configured to illustrate an electrodepositioning indication map that includes a first line intersected by asecond line positioned on the housing to define a plurality of quadrantsbetween the first line and the second line. The display can also beconfigured to illuminate at least one indicia along the first line ofthe electrode positioning map and at least one indicia along the secondline of the electrode positioning map based on data the device receivesfrom electrodes that are communicatively connectable to the device toindicate a direction of positional adjustment for the electrodes. Thedisplay can be configured to illuminate at least one indicia along thefirst line of the electrode positioning map and at least one indiciaalong the second line of the electrode positioning map to indicate adirection of positional adjustment for electrodes that arecommunicatively connectable to the electronic device based on data thedevice receives from the electrodes.

Embodiments of an electronic device are also provided that includes ahousing and a processor connected to non-transitory memory. Theprocessor and the memory can be within the housing. A display can beconnected to the housing. The display can be configured to illustrate avisible representation of a patient head with a centerline extendingfrom a first side of the representation of the patient head to a secondside of the representation of the patient head. The representation ofthe patient head can also have a third side between the first side andthe second side and a fourth side between the first side and the secondside, the fourth side being opposite the third side. The display can beconfigured to illustrate visible first indicia inside the representationof the patient head between the third side of the representation and thecenterline. The display can also be configured to illustrate visiblesecond indicia inside the representation of the patient head so that thesecond visible indicia is between the fourth side of the representationand the centerline. The display can be configured such that each of thevisible first indicia is associated with a respective first electrode ofa first set of first electrodes that are connectable to the electronicdevice and each of the visible second indicia is associated with arespective second electrode of a second set of second electrodesconnectable to the electronic device.

Each of the visible first indicia can be illuminable in a first color inresponse to a signal that is at a first pre-selected threshold beingreceived from the first electrode of the first set of first electrodesassociated with that visible first indicia. Each of the visible secondindicia can be illuminable in the first color in response to a signalthat is at the first pre-selected threshold being received from thesecond electrode of the second set of second electrodes associated withthat visible second indicia. Each of the visible first indicia can beilluminable in a second color in response to a signal that is below thefirst pre-selected threshold and above a second pre-selected thresholdbeing received from the first electrode of the first set of firstelectrodes associated with that visible first indicia. Each of thevisible second indicia can be illuminable in the second color inresponse to a signal that is below the first pre-selected threshold andabove the second pre-selected threshold being received from the secondelectrode of the second set of second electrodes associated with thatvisible second indicia. Each of the visible second indicia can beilluminable in the third color in response to a signal that is below thesecond pre-selected threshold being received from the second electrodeof the second set of second electrodes associated with that visiblesecond indicia. Each of the visible first indicia can be illuminable inthe third color in response to a signal that is below the secondpre-selected threshold being received from the first electrode of thefirst set of first electrodes associated with that visible firstindicia.

Embodiments of a method of indicating positional adjustment for headgearattached to an array of electrodes are also provided. Such embodimentscan include communicatively connecting an electronic device to an arrayof electrodes attached to headgear. The array of electrodes can includea first set of first electrodes and a second set of second electrodes.The method can also include displaying at least one of:

-   -   (i) an electrode positioning indication map that includes a        first line intersected by a second line positioned on the        housing to define a plurality of quadrants between the first        line and the second line; and    -   (ii) a visible representation of a patient head with a        centerline extending from a first side of the representation of        the patient head to a second side of the representation of the        patient head wherein the representation of the patient head also        has a third side between the first side and the second side and        a fourth side between the first side and the second side where        the fourth side is opposite the third side.    -   In response to data received from the electrodes communicatively        connected to the electronic device, illuminating at least one        of:    -   (a) visible first indicia inside the representation of the        patient head between the third side of the representation and        the centerline, visible second indicia inside the representation        of the patient head between the fourth side of the        representation and the centerline wherein each of the visible        first indicia is associated with a respective first electrode of        the first set of first electrodes and each of the visible second        indicia is associated with a respective second electrode of the        second set of second electrodes connectable to the electronic        device; and    -   (b) at least one positional indicia along the first line of the        electrode positioning map and at least one positional indicia        along the second line of the electrode positioning map to        indicate a direction of positional adjustment for the electrodes        based on data the device receives from the electrodes that are        communicatively connected to the electronic device.        Embodiments of the method can also include adjusting the        headgear based on the visible positional indicia and/or        adjusting at least one of the electrodes based on at least one        of the visible first indicia and the visible second indicia.

The visible first indicia and the visible second indicia can beilluminated such that each of the visible first indicia are illuminatedin a first color in response to a signal that is at a first pre-selectedthreshold being received from the first electrode of the first set offirst electrodes associated with that visible first indicia and each ofthe visible second indicia being illuminable in the first color inresponse to a signal that is at the first pre-selected threshold beingreceived from the second electrode of the second set of secondelectrodes associated with that visible second indicia. At least one ofthe visible first indicia can be illuminated in a second color inresponse to a signal that is below the first pre-selected threshold andabove a second pre-selected threshold being received from the firstelectrode of the first set of first electrodes associated with thatvisible first indicia and at least one of the visible second indicia canbe illuminated in the second color in response to a signal that is belowthe first pre-selected threshold and above the second pre-selectedthreshold being received from the second electrode of the second set ofsecond electrodes associated with that visible second indicia.

The electronic device can receive the data from the electrodes anddetermine locations at which the positional indicia are to beilluminated along the first line and along the second line forilluminating at least one one positional indicia along the first line ofthe electrode positioning map and at least one positional indicia alongthe second line of the electrode positioning map to indicate a directionof positional adjustment for the electrodes based on data the devicereceives from the electrodes that are communicatively connected to theelectronic device.

Other details, objects, and advantages of the electrode array, electrodeheadgear, neurological condition detection device, and methods of makingand using the same will become apparent as the following description ofcertain exemplary embodiments thereof proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of headgear, electrodes, electrode arrays,neurological condition detection mechanisms, and methods of making andusing the same are shown in the accompanying drawings. It should beunderstood that like reference numbers used in the drawings may identifylike components.

FIG. 1, illustrates a front schematic view of a first exemplaryembodiment of the headgear 3. The headgear 3 includes a first strip 1having a contrasting color to typical hair (e.g. a bright green coloredstrip, a bright blue colored strip, etc.). This strip may be a coloredelongated portion of the headgear itself, or another material affixed tothe headgear. It can be referred to as a first indicator strip 1. Asecond strip 2 is also illustrated as being connected to the headgear 3and/or the first strip 1. The second strip 2 can be an elongated memberthat is attached to the first strip so that a length of the second stripextends in a direction that is parallel to the front-to-back directionat which the first strip 1 extends. The second strip can be acontrasting color to typical hair or patient skin color (e.g. brightblue, purple, green, etc.).

FIG. 2, is a rear schematic view of the first exemplary embodiment ofthe headgear 3. An array of electrodes can be attached to the headgear(e.g. the electrodes may be sewn into different positions in theheadgear or may be attached via connectors that include a plurality ofhooks and a plurality of fasteners (e.g. Velcro® material, hook and loopfasteners, clasp mechanisms, etc.) to position the electrodes. Theelectrodes can be positioned on the inner surface of the headgear sothat they are contactable with the head of a patient. The headgear 3 canbe configured as any type of headgear such as, for example, a headband,headband frame, a hat, or a helmet.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a methodfor use of an exemplary embodiment of the headgear.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a measurementdevice to which an embodiment of the headgear can be connected.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a neurologicalcondition detection apparatus that can include the exemplary embodimentof the measurement device shown in FIG. 4 communicatively connected tothe array of electrodes attached to an embodiment of the headgear 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective right side view of a second exemplary embodimentof a headgear having an electrode array that is being worn by a patient.An outer covering of the headgear (e.g. shell, fabric covering) is cutaway to illustrate the electrode array. The left side view of theembodiment shown in FIG. 6 would be a mirror image of the right sideview shown in FIG. 6. It should be understood that in some embodiments,the headgear may not utilize a covering for covering the frame.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the second exemplary embodiment ofthe headgear having the electrode array. The left side portion of theheadgear outer covering is cut away to schematically illustrate thelocation of electrodes of the electrode array.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of an exemplary electrode hub of theelectrode array of the second exemplary embodiment of the headgear.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an exemplary electrode hub of theelectrode array that can be used in embodiments of the headgear.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view of an electrode member 26 c of theexemplary electrode hub of the electrode array shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of another exemplary electrode hub of anelectrode array that can be used in embodiments of the headgear.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a first exemplary embodiment of amethod of using an electrode array of a headgear to assess aneurological condition of a patient.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating a second exemplary embodiment of amethod of using an electrode array of a headgear to assess aneurological condition of a patient.

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment ofthe headgear having the electrode array.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary view of an electrode hub of the thirdexemplary embodiment of the headgear with the electrode members shown ina first position.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary view of an electrode hub of the thirdexemplary embodiment of the headgear with the electrode members shown ina second position.

FIG. 17 is a perspective left side view of the third exemplaryembodiment of the headgear having an electrode array that is being wornby a patient. The right side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 17would be a mirror image of the left side view shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary view of an electrode member 26 c of anexemplary electrode hub of the electrode array of the third exemplaryembodiment of the headgear in the first position.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary view of an electrode member 26 c of anexemplary electrode hub of the electrode array of the third exemplaryembodiment of the headgear in an intermediate third position that isbetween the first and second positions of electrode member.

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary view of an electrode member 26 c of anexemplary electrode hub of the electrode array of the third exemplaryembodiment of the headgear in the second position.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an exemplary electrode hub of anelectrode array can be included in the first, second, or thirdembodiments of the headgear or other embodiment of the headgear with thehub having a compressible chamber in a first position (e.g. anuncompressed position or an initial position).

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the exemplary electrode hub of anelectrode array can be included in the first, second, or thirdembodiments of the headgear or other embodiment of the headgear shown inFIG. 21 with the compressible chamber in a second position (e.g. acompressed position or a collapsed position).

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary electrode member ofthe electrode hub embodiment shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 to illustratehollow channels through which a conductive fluid material (e.g. aslurry, a gel, etc.) is passable for being directed out of the electrodemember and onto skin of a patient.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of an exemplary electrode member of theelectrode hub embodiment shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 having multiplechannels 39 defined in channel members (e.g. splines, inserts, portionsof the electrode member body, etc.) cut away to illustrate dischargeoutlets for through which conductive fluid material (e.g. a gel, aliquid, etc.) is passable for being directed onto the skin of a patientto improve or facilitate a conductive connection between the electrodeand the patient.

FIG. 25 is a schematic representation of a first pre-selected fluid flowpattern of fluid emitted from the discharge outlets of the electrodemembers of the exemplary electrode hub shown in FIGS. 21-22 based on theflow rate of fluid emitted from the electrode members and the placementand orientation of the discharge outlets of the electrode members toprovide a flow of fluid directed to a pre-specified target area.

FIG. 26 is a schematic representation of a second pre-selected fluidflow pattern of fluid emitted from the discharge outlets of theelectrode members of the exemplary electrode hub shown in FIGS. 21-22based on the flow rate of fluid emitted from the electrode members andthe placement and orientation of the discharge outlets of the electrodemembers to provide a flow of fluid directed to a pre-specified targetarea.

FIG. 27 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the headgearcommunicatively connected to an exemplary computer device (e.g. ameasurement device 7 or other type of electronic device including adisplay 11 c (e.g. a liquid crystal display, a monitor, etc.)illustrating an exemplary electrode hub positioning display that isprovidable for facilitating headgear positional adjustment to help auser try to optimize electrode hub placement on a patient prior to atest (e.g. measurement, evaluation, etc.) of the patient being conductedvia a measurement device 7 and electrode array.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of headgear 3 may come in many manifestations ranging froma skull cap to an elastic netting or mesh netting that is sized to beworn on the head of a patient. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the front and rearviews of one embodiment of such a headgear 3. The headgear can beconfigured as any type of headgear such as a type of helmet, a type ofelastic netting structure that can be worn on a patient's head, a typeof cap, or other type of headgear that can be placed on a patient's headand worn on the patient's head. The headgear 3 can have structure (e.g.a chin strap that can be buckled or otherwise attachable to the headgear3) and/or other configuration (e.g. elasticity of the headgearstructure) to apply a force on the user's head when the headgear 3 isworn on the user's head to ensure a tight fit on the user's head and/ora quality electrical connection. The tight fit can help with electrodeplacement and positioning, for example.

The headgear 3 can include a first strip 1 that can be arranged toextend from the front to the back of the headgear at a center of thebody of the headgear 3 so that the first strip 1 is visible on anexternal surface of the headgear 3 and is a centerline that extends in astraight manner from the front of the headgear 3 to the back of theheadgear 3. When the headgear 3 is worn, the centerline defined by thevisible first strip 1 can be considered an arc-type line or a curvedline that extends rearwardly from the front of the headgear 3 to therear of the headgear to define a visible centerline at the center of thepatient's head when the patient is wearing the headgear on his or herhead.

A second strip 2 can also be provided. The second strip 2 can beconfigured as an indicator strip that is sized and shaped as a bar, rod,strip of polymeric material, or other type of strip that can be attachedto the first strip 1 and/or the body of the headgear 3. The second stripcan have a polygonal shape (e.g. rectangular shape, a cubic shape,hexagonal shape, etc.) or other type of shape. The second strip 2 canextend horizontally from adjacent a left side of a patients head toadjacent a right side of the patient's head. The second strip 2 is shownas being at the front of the headgear 3, but it is also contemplatedthat the second strip 2 could instead be at the rear of the headgear (orthat there be a third indicator strip similar to the second strip 2located at a rear of the headgear 3 so that a user can determine thecorrect position of the first strip 1 as a centerline via the rear orfront views of the patient). The second strip 2 can be rectangular inshape and extend linearly from a left side of the patient to a rightside of a patient (e.g. by a left side of the patient's forehead to aright side of the patient's forehead).

The first and second strips 1 and 2 can be connected to a body of theheadgear 3. A third strip 4 can also be connected to the body of theheadgear 3 in some embodiments. The body of the headgear 3 can beconfigured to be concave in shape so that it may be worn by a patient ontop of the patient's head. The body can be composed of a flexible, butrigid material such as a polymeric material or a plastic material. Forinstance, the body of the headgear can be a concave shaped bodycomprised of a polymeric material or a plastic material. Alternatively,the body of the headgear could be composed of mesh or fabric material,an elastic material, or have another type of structure to which thefirst and second strips 1 and 2 are attachable.

Each of the first and second strips 1 and 2 (and/or third strip 4) canbe prominently colored so that a user may look at the strips and thelines defined by those strips (or only one of the strips or linesdefined by that strip) when placed on the patient from either the front,back, or top to visually inspect the accuracy of the placement on theelectrodes as indicated by the strips and confirmation that the firststrip is at a central location on the patient's head to define acenterline corresponding to a center of the patient's head.

The second strip 2 and/or third strip 4 can be used to anchor theheadgear 3 so that the headgear 3 stays in its position when worn by apatient. For such an anchoring function, the second strip 2 and/or thethird strip 4 can be configured to have a pre-selected weight and have aparticular type of structure of connection to the headgear 3 tofacilitate such anchoring.

Application for different embodiments may be different depending on thebiosignals sought to be obtained by a particular array of electrodesattached to or included within the inner surface of the headgear 3. But,for each embodiment, the headgear 3 can be configured so that thehorizontal second strip 2 can be visually placed at the desiredlocation, (e.g. positioned so the center of the second strip 2 is at themidpoint of the forehead of a patient or a center of the forehead of apatient or at a position just above the nose of the patient, etc.). Thehorizontally extending second strip 2 can extend linearly and be levelas it extends from adjacent the left side of a patient's head toadjacent the right side of the patient's head to help a user visiblyassess the placement of the headgear 3. A third strip 4, when present,can also be positioned to extend linearly and be level as it extendsfrom adjacent the left side of a patient's head to adjacent the rightside of the patient's head to help a user visibly assess the placementof the headgear 3.

As yet another example, the second strip 2 (or a third strip 4 shown inbroken line in FIG. 2 when present with the second strip 2 attached tothe front of the headgear 3) could be oriented on the back of the neckso that the middle or center of the strip was at a midpoint of the backof the neck or a center of the back of the neck and the strip extendfrom the left side to the right side of the patient in a linear andlevel fashion. In yet other embodiments, the second strip 2 could bepositioned anywhere in which the second strip extends horizontally sothat the second strip 2 extends along its length horizontally andlinearly in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction at whichthe first strip 1 extends from the front of the headgear 3 to the rearof the headgear 3. For instance, the second strip 2 could be placed nearthe top of the head to extend between the ears of the patient so thatthe second strip was level as it extended linearly from its first end toits second end.

A user can use the first and second strips 1 and 2 (and also the thirdstrip 4 when present) to help verify that the first strip 1 is properlypositioned to define a centerline along a center of a patient's headwhen the headgear 3 is worn on the patient's head. The second strip 2and/or third strip 4 can help the user confirm that the first strip 1 isproperly aligned to extend from the front of the patient's head to therear of the patient's head at a center of the patient's head to helpensure the first strip defines a centerline running along a center ofthe patient's head. Such a positioning can help ensure the array ofelectrodes are symmetrically positioned on the left and right sides ofthe patient's head. In this regard, the second strip 2 and/or the thirdstrip 4 may have a visible dot, a recess, a protuberance, or some othervisible indicator at its midpoint along its horizontal length thatcorresponds to the location at which the first strip 1 is positioned toextend from the front to the rear of the headgear to help a useridentify that the second strip 2 is centrally positioned forconfirmation that the first strip 1 is also centrally positioned todefine a centerline along the head of the patient that extends from thefront to the back of the patient's head for symmetrical positioning ofthe electrodes. If a user sees that the second strip 2 or third strip 4is off-center (e.g. too much to the left or right to be centered), theheadgear 3 can be adjusted to center the second strip 2 (and the thirdstrip 4 when present) and first strip 1 so that the midpoint of thesecond strip 2 is coincident with a center of the headgear 3 and iscoincident with a center of the patient's forehead (e.g. above the noseof the patient if the second strip is positioned on the forehead of thepatient, etc.). When present, the third strip can also include amidpoint indicator that is positionable to be coincident with a centerof the patient's head at the rear of the patient's head.

In some embodiments, the first, second, and third strips 1, 2 and 4 caneach be made as part of the headgear material or externally adhered tothe headgear 3. The material could be rigid and contoured to conform tothe shape of a patient's head or the material could be a soft materialor a resilient material that could conform to a patient's head. Eachstrip can be made of a solid color material or have a particularpre-selected pattern (or both) or some other type of visible indicatorfeature. In some embodiments, each strip could be configured for lowlight conditions by also (or alternatively) including light emittingdevice illuminators (e.g. one or more LED lights attached to each stripto define the centerline (first strip) or horizontal centeringindication line (second strip), an LED illumination, or photoluminescentmaterial. A battery, a solar cell, or other power source could beconnected to the light emitting device illuminators to power them.

The electrodes attached to the headgear may be in a pre-selected arrayso that a number of electrodes on a left side of the headgearsymmetrically correspond to electrodes on the right side of the headgear(e.g. for each of the electrodes on the left side of the first strip 1,there is a respective left side electrode that symmetrically correspondsto a respective right side electrode so that the corresponding pair ofright and left side electrodes are each the same distance away from thecenterline defined by the first strip 1 but on opposite correspondingsides of that centerline). The array of electrodes can include a firstset of first electrodes that correspond to a first side of the patient'shead (e.g. the left side electrodes) and a second set of secondelectrodes that correspond to a second side of the patient's head on aside of the head that is opposite the first side of the patient's headand on an opposite side of a centerline of the patient's head (e.g. theright side electrodes of the array of electrodes when the first side isthe left side or the left side electrodes of the array when the firstside is the right side).

The electrodes may be connected to an electronics measurement device 7via an electrically communicative connection 8 (e.g. a connection viaone or more wires, cables, etc. or via a wireless connection by whichthe measurement device 7 is able to receive a biosignal from theelectrodes or data based on the electrode biosignals from electrode hubs25 of the electrodes).

In some embodiments, the headgear 3 can be utilized in connection with ameasurement device 7 that is configured to be a neurological conditiondetection unit such as the neurological condition detection unitsdisclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 15/083,366 and15/890,493. The electrodes of the headgear 3 can be utilized tofacilitate measurements and detection of one or more neurologicalconditions using such a neurological condition detection unit. Theentirety of U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 15/083,366 and 15/890,493are incorporated by reference herein.

It should therefore be appreciated that the measurement device 7 caninclude non-transitory memory, at least one processor, and a powersource (e.g. at least one battery). The measurement device 7 can alsoinclude a housing 13 that includes at least one graphical electrode map9 that visibly identifies the electrode array of the headgear 3 and thecenterline that extends front to back along the head of a patient thatis defined by the first strip 1 and the indicator line to be defined bythe left-to-right extending second strip 2. The graphical electrode map9 can be structured as an outer surface element of a measurement device7 or can be configured for being displayed on a display 11 c connectedto the measurement device 7 or other computer device (e.g. acommunication device, a smart phone, an electrode positioning device,etc.) that can be communicatively connected to the headgear 3 and/orelectrode array attached to the headgear 3.

The graphical electrode map 9 can include a representation of a patienthead 9 a. The representation of the patient head 9 a can be a top viewrepresentation of a patient head, for example. The electrode map 9 canalso include indicia indicating a center region of the patient head 9 b(e.g. a centerline, a dashed line of a particular color to indicate thecenter of the head, etc.). The center region of the patient's head canbe identified by the indicia indicating the center region of thepatient's head 9 b can be configured to identify a portion of therepresentation of the patient head 9 a that corresponds to a centerregion of the patient's head extending from the front of the head to theback of the head between the patient's left and right sides) andelectrode indicia 9 c that are positioned in locations on therepresentation of the patient head 9 a corresponding to positions atwhich the electrode hubs of headgear 3 are desired to be positioned. Theelectrode indicia 9 c can be LEDs that can be configured to emit lightin at least one color (e.g. only green, green and red, or green, red,and yellow, etc.) or the electrode indicia 9 c can be pre-definedportions of a display configured to have a particular shape (e.g. circleor square shape to be displayed on a graphical display illustrated on aliquid crystal display to represent the electrodes on a representationof the patient head 9 a, etc.) and also have a particular color torepresent each electrode or electrode hub of the headgear 3. The indiciaindicating a center region of the patient head 9 b can also be shown onsuch a displayed graphic.

For example, each electrode or electrode hub position within the visiblemap illustrating the representation of the patient's head 9 a having afirst side that may represent the front of the patient's head and asecond side that may represent the rear side of the patient's head. Acenterline may extend at a center of the representation of the patient'shead between the first and second sides of the representation of thepatient's head 9 a. A third side of the representation of the patient'shead may extend from the front side to the rear side of therepresentation of the patient's head and a fourth side of therepresentation of the patient's head may extend from the front side tothe rear side of the representation of the patient's head opposite thethird side. The centerline can be positioned between the third andfourth sides (e.g. the third side can be a left side and the fourth sidecan be a right side or vice versa).

There may be LEDs positioned to represent a corresponding electrode ofthe array of electrodes (or electrode hub of the array) in the map 9.For instance, there may be a first set of LEDs or other type of firstvisible indicia that include a respective LED or other type of visibleindicia that represents a respective first electrode or first electrodehub of a first set of electrodes positioned on the third side of thepatient's head. The first LEDs or other type of first visible indicia(e.g. the first visible indicia can be LEDs or can be other type ofvisual indicia), can be positioned on the map 9 so that they arepositioned between the centerline and the third side of therepresentation of the patient's head between the first and second sidesof the representation of the patient's head 9 a. There may also be arespective second set of LEDs or other type of second visible indiciathat include a respective LED or other type of visible indicia thatrepresents a respective second electrode or second electrode hub of asecond set of electrodes positioned on the fourth side of the patient'shead. The second LEDs or other type of second visible indicia (e.g. thesecond visible indicia can be LEDs or can be other type of visualindicia), can be positioned on the map 9 so that they are positionedbetween the centerline and the fourth side of the representation of thepatient's head between the first and second sides of the representationof the patient's head 9 a.

When the electrodes are not properly positioned for obtaining a signalfrom a patient, the LEDs may emit a red color (or other first color) toindicate no signal is obtainable from that electrode. If the electrodeis able to provide a sufficiently strong signal, the LED may emit agreen color (or other second color) to indicate the electrode isproperly positioned. If the electrode is positioned so that themeasurement device 7 is able to receive a signal from the electrode, butthe signal strength is below a pre-selected threshold level, the LED forthat electrode may emit a yellow color (or other third color) toindicate a weak signal so that a user can re-assess the headgear orelectrode on the patient to determine why the signal is weak prior to ameasurement being performed. Key indicia (e.g. display of a key) can beprovided near the map 9 to identify how a particular color correspondsto the electrode position or electrode ability to obtain a biosignalfrom the patient for the multiple different colors that each LED mayemit. The graphical map with the LEDs on the external surface of thehousing of the measurement device 7 can provide a visible indicator tohelp a user confirm the electrodes are properly positioned on a patientvia the headgear 3 for obtaining biosignal measurements before ameasurement is taken.

In the event a user sees that one or more of the LEDs is red or yellow,the user can take action to adjust the electrode positioning on thepatient until those electrodes are better positioned for recordingbiosignals and the LEDs corresponding to those electrodes are displayedin the second color, or at least the third color e.g. all the electroderepresenting LEDs are green or are either green or yellow inillumination to indicate that a signal is receivable at each electrodeof the electrode array). Once an acceptable position for all theelectrodes is determined from the map 9, the measurement device may beactuated so that the patient experiences an induced voltage (e.g. “ashock”) and the electrodes can be used to measure the patient's responseto that event for assessing a neurological condition of the patient. Theuser can also utilize the presence of some LEDs being in a yellow coloror other third color to assess the results in context of the relativeelectrode connectivity issues to help interpret the reliability of themeasurement information obtained via the measurement device 7 andelectrodes or assess whether the patient should immediately undergoanother measurement or evaluation using the measurement device 7.

In some embodiments, a first pre-selected threshold can define a goodelectrically conductive connection between an electrode hub 25 and apatient that can be used for actuation of the displayed color forelectrode indicia 9 c (e.g. determining whether the electrode indicia 9c should be illuminated in a green or yellow color). The firstpre-selected threshold value can be an electrical conductivityresistance threshold that is 5,000 ohms or a value in the range of 2,500ohms to 10,000 ohms. If the value is at or under the first pre-selectedthreshold value, the electrode indicia 9 c can be displayed the firstcolor (e.g. green) and if the value is over the threshold, the electrodeindicia 9 c can be illuminated in a second color (e.g. yellow). A secondpre-selected threshold can be used for determining whether the electrodeindicia 9 c should be illuminated in the second color (e.g. yellow) orthe third color (e.g. red). An electrical conductivity resistancethreshold of 30,000 ohms or a value in the range of 15,000 ohms to40,000 ohms could be used for such a second threshold value. Of course,other values could alternatively be selected for the first and secondpre-selected thresholds to account for a particular type of electrodeconfiguration or to meet a particular set of design criteria. In yetother embodiments, the threshold may be a value that is in another unitof measure (e.g. volts or amps). The unit of measure that is utilizedfor the threshold detection values can be based on the type of sensor ordetection methodology utilized for assessing the electrically conductiveconnection between an electrode member 26 c and the patient's scalp 30.

The representation of the patient's head 9 a and the graphical map 9defined on a housing that utilizes this representation, LEDs and acenterline can also be defined by code stored in non-transitory memorythat is processed by a processor so that a display 11 c displays agraphic on the display 11 c that illustrates such a representation. Insuch a representation, the LEDs may be replaced by the displayilluminating portions of the display 11 c that are to be representativeof the electrodes. The illumination of that indicia can be in adifferent colors to indicate a different level of connectivity (e.g. afirst color to represent a good position and connection, a second colorto represent a weak connection, or a third color that represents aposition that results in no signal being received, etc.).

Referring to FIG. 27, there may also be other displays related toelectrode array positioning that may be displayable to a user. Suchdisplays can be provided in addition to the use of the graphical map 9.In other embodiments, such displays can be provided as an alternative tothe use of the graphical map 9.

For instance, a display 11 c of the measurement device 7 or a display ofan electrode position assistant device can be configured to becommunicatively connected to the electrode array that includes a numberof electrode hubs 25 to communicate with the headgear 3, the array ofelectrodes and/or the electrode hubs 25 of the array to facilitateillustrating a displayed representation for indicating how the headgear3 should be adjusted to improve the positioning of the headgear 3 andelectrode array on the patient's head prior to a measurement beingperformed via a measurement device 7. The electrode hubs can include afirst set of first electrode hubs in which each of the first electrodehubs is to be positioned on a left side of the patient's head and asecond set of second electrode hubs in which each of the secondelectrode hubs is to be positioned on the second side of the patient'shead. The first side of the patient's head can be a right side of thepatient's head and the second side can be the left side of the patient'shead or vice versa. It should be understood that if the front and rearsides of a patient's head are considered to be the first side and thesecond side of the patient's head, then (i) the left side of thepatient's head can be considered the third side and the right side ofthe patient's head can be considered the fourth side or (ii) the rightside of the patient's head can be considered the third side and the leftside of the patient's head can be considered the fourth side

The displayed representation that is displayable via the display 11 c oris definable on a housing of an electronic device (e.g. housing ofmeasurement device 7 etc.) can be a positioning indication map 9 m. Forinstance, the positioning indication map 9 m can be defined on a housingof the measurement device 7 or an electrode position assistant deviceand have visible indicia positioned thereon (e.g. LEDs, lines, otherindicia) to provide the positioning indication map 9 m. As anotherexample, the positioning indication map 9 m can be configured to bedisplayed via a display 11 c of an electronic device such as themeasurement device 7 or an electrode position assistant device.

The positioning indication map 9 m can include a vertical line 9 q and ahorizontal line 9 r that intersect each other to define a cross or a “+”type shape. Illuminable indicia (which can also be considered visibleindicia) 90 can be positioned on these lines or displayable on theselines. Illuminable indicia 9 p can also be positioned or displayable inthe quadrants 9 t defined by the cross shape. The illuminable indiciacan be LEDs, other type of light emitting device in pre-selected regionsin the map positioned on a surface of a housing, or be defined to becolored regions on a display 11 c corresponding to such locations. Otherindicia can include names or symbols (e.g. “Front”, the letter “F”,etc.) near or at a terminal end of each line to identify the regions ofthe cross shape defined by the vertical and horizontal lines 9 q and 9 ras corresponding to the front, rear, left, and right sides of apatient's head.

The positioning indication map 9 m can be configured so that when theheadgear 3 is properly positioned on a patient's head to properly alignthe electrode array on a patient's head, the center section 9 s of thecross-shape or “+” shape is illuminated via a light emitting diode or aportion of the display causing that region of the display at the centersection 9 s of a displayed cross “+” to be illuminated in a pre-selectedway (e.g. a particular color and/or shape etc.). For example, there maybe an illuminated circle or dot that is illuminated in a pre-selectedcolor (e.g. green or blue) at the intersection of the cross (“+”) of thepositioning indicia map 9 m. Other proper positioning indicia can beprovided as well (or as an alternative to illumination of an indicia atcenter section 9 s), such as all the LEDs on the vertical and horizontallines being lit in a pre-selected color (e.g. green or blue, etc.) orthe display 11 c displaying the vertical and horizontal lines 9 q and 9r in a pre-selected color to indicate acceptable positioning.

In the event the headgear 3 and electrode array is not properlypositioned, one or more indicia may be displayed to a user on thepositioning indicia map 9 m to indicate an adjustment of the headgear 3is needed to properly position the headgear 3 and electrode array on thepatient's head. For configurations in which the positional indicationmap 9 m is illustrated on a display 11 c, direction arrows may bedisplayed to indicate a positional adjustment direction about whichheadgear is to be moved to improve the position of the electrodes (orelectrode hubs 25) of the headgear 3 on the patient. Such arrows couldalternatively be pre-defined on a housing and illuminated when the arrowindication is determined to be appropriate for displaying a positionaladjustment indicator based on electrode data received from the electrodearray.

As another example, LEDs can be configured to emit a color in a secondpre-selected color or a third pre-selected color (e.g. red or yellow) atspaced positions on the vertical and/or horizontal lines 9 q and 9 r toindicate a degree to which the headgear 3 needs adjusted forwardly (orbackwardly) and sidewardly (e.g. to the left or to the right). Such amotion can correspond to a rotational type adjustment motion or discreetlinear motions (e.g. sideward adjustment motion followed by a forward orrearward adjustment motion).

For example, colored lighting or other indicia may be configured to bedisplayed on a left side of the horizontal line 9 r to indicate that theheadgear needs adjusted to the left to a certain degree. The fartheraway from the center section 9 s the colored light appears cancorrespond to the greater degree to which sideward motion is needed toproperly position the headgear 3. As another example, colored lightingcan be emitted on the vertical line above or below the center section 9s to indicate a degree to which the headgear 3 needs adjusted forwardlyor backwardly). As yet another example, colored lighting can be emittedin the second or third color on the horizontal line 9 r and the verticalline 9 q to indicate a sideward adjustment motion and a forward orbackward adjustment motion is needed. The distance between the centersection 9 s (e.g. central intersection of the cross “+” shape) and theemitted light in the second or third color can indicate the extent towhich an adjustment is needed (e.g. the farther away a light is from thecenter section 9 s, the more motion in that direction is needed).

The color of the light emitted to indicate an adjustment is needed canbe in the second color to indicate a level of the conductive connectionthe electrodes have to the patient's scalp in the particular position.Coloration in the second color (e.g. yellow) can indicate the contact isacceptable and coloration in the third color can indicate that thecontact is not acceptable. Alternatively, the color can further identifythe extent to which the adjustment motion must be made (e.g. a yellowcolor as the second color a certain distance away may indicate a firstdistance of adjustment motion and a red color as the third color canindicate a further second distance of adjustment motion is needed).

Indicia in one or more quadrants 9 t can also be emitted when theposition is not proper. The light emission in the quadrants can be usedto indicate that a rotation of the headgear is needed to adjust theposition of the headgear on a patient to properly align the electrodearray on the patient's head. For example, a light can be emitted in aquadrant between the top end of the vertical line 9 q and the left sideend of the horizontal line 9 r to indicate that a clockwise rotation ora counterclockwise rotation to a particular degree (e.g. 15 degrees or20 degrees, etc.) is needed to adjust the position of the headgear onthe patient's head to properly align the electrode array. Light emittedin the opposite quadrant between the top end of the vertical line 9 qand the right side end of the horizontal line 9 r can indicate anopposite rotational adjustment motion is needed (e.g. a clockwiserotation). In other embodiments, the rotational indication provided bysuch indicia can be reversed (e.g. an indication of a clockwise rotationcan be provided by light emitted in a quadrant between the top end ofthe vertical line 9 q and the left side end of the horizontal line 9 rand a counterclockwise adjustment rotation can be indicated by lightemitted in a quadrant between the top end of the vertical line 9 q andthe right side end of the horizontal line 9 r).

A visible key or other instructions can be provided to help a usercorrelate the indicia displayed for positional adjustment with how tomove the headgear 3 on the patient based on the displayed indicia. Auser can utilize such instructional information for learning how toutilize the indicia for improving the positioning of the headgear 3 onthe patient prior to any testing being performed.

The positional information conveyed to the measurement device 7 (or aseparate electrode position assistant device) to provide electrodepositioning information can be from sensors attached to the electrodesor the electrode hubs 25 of the headgear 3. For example, suchinformation can be conveyed by measurement data obtained by one or moreelectrode positioning sensors 26 m, which can be configured asgyroscopes or accelerometers in some embodiments. There may be at leastone electrode positioning sensor 26 m included in each electrode hub 25of the electrode array included in the headgear 3 and subsequentlycommunicated to the measurement device 7 (or a separate electrodeposition assistant device). Such data can be conveyed along with datafrom the electrode members 26 c and/or electrode hubs 25 indicating asignal quality of the connection electrode members have with thepatient's skin for generation of one or more maps (e.g. geographical map9 and/or positioning indication map 9 m). The device receiving thatmeasurement data may then respond to that data by providing thepositioning indication map 9 m via the display 11 c based on thatreceived data or by actuating different lights or other indicia for thepositioning indication map 9 m positioned on the housing of the device.Lighting or other indicia for the geographical map 9 can also beactuated based on that data. Code stored in non-transitory memory thatis accessible to a processor of the measurement device 7 can define howthe data from the gyroscopes is used to actuate indicia on thepositioning indication map 9 m positioned on a housing or generate thepositioning indication map 9 m on a display 11 c having differentindicia illuminated or otherwise displayed. Code stored in thenon-transitory memory that is accessible to the processor of themeasurement device 7 can also define how the data from the electrodemembers 26 c and/or electrode hubs 25 can actuate indicia beingdisplayed on the graphical map 9 (e.g. light coloration of LED lights,etc.).

For embodiments that utilize both a positional indication map 9 m and agraphical map utilizing a representation of a patient's head 9 a, andboth representations are defined on a housing of a device, the housingmay be considered to have many different sets of LEDs or other types ofvisible indicia. For instance, there may be first and second LEDs on therepresentation of the patient's head that are part of first and secondsets of LEDs that are to correspond to respective electrodes orelectrode hubs as discussed herein. LEDs along vertical and horizontallines and/or in quadrants can be additional LEDs or sets of LEDs (e.g.can be considered third LEDs, fourth LEDs, fifth LEDs etc.) and when acentral LED is positioned at the intersection of the cross or “+” shapeof the intersecting lines of the positional indication map 9 m, that LEDcan be considered yet another LED of a set of at least one LED (e.g. athird LED, a fourth LED, fifth LED or a sixth LED depending on how otherLEDs on the housing are positioned or present and how one references thedifferent sets of LEDs). In yet other embodiments, one of the positionalindication map 9 m and the graphical map utilizing a representation of apatient's head 9 a, can be defined on a housing of a device and theother of those two representations can be displayable via the display 11c (e.g. (i) the housing of the measurement device 7 has therepresentation of the patient's head 9 a defined thereon and the display11 c displays the positional indication map 9 m or (ii) the display 11 cdisplays the patient's head 9 a representation and the housing of themeasurement device 7 defines the positional indication map 9 m).

It should be appreciated that the measurement device 7 can include anumber of input mechanisms 11, output mechanisms 12 and/or input/outputmechanisms (also referred to as I/O mechanisms). For instance, themeasurement device can include a number of buttons 11 a (e.g. a powerbutton, a start button, a stop button, etc.), an indicator to indicatebattery life 11 b, and a display 11 c (e.g. a liquid crystal display).The display 11 c could be a touch screen display or another type ofdisplay. A printer can also be communicatively connected to themeasurement device 7 for printing out data received by the measurementdevice 7 or assessment results the measurement device 7 can providebased on biosignal data received from the electrode array of theheadgear 3. The measurement device 7 can also be configured to providemeasurement data from the measurements taken via the electrodes obtainedvia a communication connection 8 to at least one other device (e.g. acomputer, a tablet, a server, a printer, etc.).

It should be appreciated that different embodiments of the headgear 3having an electrode array and measurement device 7 can utilize differentarrangements to meet a particular set of design criteria. For instance,the geometry, height, width (or diameter) of each headgear can be sizedto meet a particular design objective (e.g. account for certain type ofmaterial to be used for forming the headgear (e.g. fabric, threading,etc.). As another example, the number of electrodes in the array ofelectrodes and their positioning in the headgear or on the headgear candepend on a particular set of design criteria. As yet another example,the size and shape of the first and second strips 1 and 2 and the numberof such strips that are used can be any of a number of differentgeometries and shapes to meet a particular set of design criteria. Asyet another example, the type of graphical map, the color at which LEDscould be colored to indicate an electrode property, the shape of thehousing, or the type of input and/or output mechanisms used for themeasurement device, and the configuration of the positioning indicationmap 9 m can be any of a number of arrangements to meet a desired designobjective or a set of design criteria.

Referring to FIGS. 6-8 and 14-26, other embodiments of the headgear 3can be appreciated. In the embodiment of FIGS. 6-8 and 14-26, theheadgear structure 21 can be configured as a helmet or other type ofheadgear structure that has a frame 23 that includes a plurality ofinterconnected straps 23 a. The straps 23 a can be composite straps,elastomeric straps, polymeric straps or be a fabric-based set of straps23 a (or combinations of such straps). Each strap 23 a can be attachedto multiple other straps or at least one other strap or the straps canbe defined in a molded or otherwise fabricated shaped headgear (e.g.plastic injection molded, sewn frame, etc.). In yet other embodiments,the headgear 3 can have another type of frame structure.

A plurality of electrode hubs 25 can be attached to the straps 23 a.Each hub 25 can be positioned so that it is in a pre-selected locationon the frame 23 so that there are at least two sets of correspondingelectrode hubs 25—a first side (e.g. a “left side”) set of electrodehubs and a second set (e.g. a “right side” set) of electrode hubs 25.The electrode hubs 25 of the first side set are positioned so that eachone of the first side set of electrode hubs 25 is in a position thatcorresponds to a position of a respective corresponding electrode in thesecond side set of electrode hubs 25. These positions can include afirst forward position to be positioned by a patient's forehead when theframe 23 is on a patient's head, a rearmost position to be positioned bya patient's back of the head, and at least one intermediate positionbetween the forward and rearward positions. There can also be anear-adjacent position for electrode hubs 25 of the first and secondsets. The ear-adjacent positioned electrode hub of the first side setcan be adjacent a user's left ear, for example, and the electrode hub 25of the second side set that is the respective corresponding electrodehub for this electrode hub 25 can be an electrode hub 25 of the secondside set positioned adjacent a user's right ear. The first and secondsets of electrode hubs 25 are positioned so that the electrode hubs 25in the first side set can be considered a mirror image of the secondside set so that the first side set electrode hubs 25 and second sideset electrode hubs 25 are positioned at the same or substantially thesame positions on opposite sides of a patient's head.

Each of the first and second sets of hubs 25 can be arranged so that themirror image located hubs form a pair of hubs (e.g. the left side hub bythe patient's left side ear and the mirror image right side hub by thepatient's right side ear can be a first pair of corresponding left andright side electrode hubs 25, a front most hub on the left side of thepatient's head and a front most hub on the right side of the patient'shead can be a second pair, a rear most hub on the left side of thepatient's head and a rear most hub on the right side of the patient'shead can be a third pair, etc.). The pairs of hubs 25 can be utilizedfor evaluating which electrode hubs are to be utilized for collection ofmeasurement data and for use in receiving measurement data from one ormore electrode members 26 c of each hub for the measurement device 7 toperform a comparison of the left and right side data from the pair toevaluate differences in how the patient's body responded to an evokedpotential that is passed through the patient's body by an evokeelectrode or other mechanism. The use of the pairs of data for multiplepairs of left and right side electrode hubs can be utilized for such acomparison. Each of the hubs 25 can also be configured to determinewhich of the electrode members 26 c of the hub 25 should be used forcollecting data from a patient (e.g. biosignal data from the patient'sbody responding to an evoke event, or shock, conveyed to the patientbody via the measurement device 7), or determining which data from whichelectrode members 26 c of the hub 25 are to be transmitted to themeasurement device 7.

Each electrode hub 25 can include a hub body 26 that includes an outermember 26 b, a housing 26 a that is configured to be positioned betweenthe patient's head (when the headgear 3 is worn) and the outer member 26b, and a plurality of electrode members 26 c that are moveablypositionable within a chamber 26 d defined by the outer member 26 b andthe housing 26 a. The outer member 26 b can be a conductive member thatis comprised of a conductive material. The outer member 26 b can definean outer side of the chamber 26 d in which the electrode members 26 care moveably positionable. The outer member 26 b can include a circuitboard having at least one circuit 26 e positioned thereon. The at leastone circuit 26 e can at least include a transmission circuitry forcommunicatively connecting electrode members 26 c that contact the outermember 26 b with the measurement device 7 so that at least some (or all)of the measurement data sensed by the electrodes that contact the outermember 26 b can be communicatively transmitted to the measurement device7. The transmission circuitry can be configured so that data collectedby electrode members 26 c via a particular hub has an identifierincluded with the data transmitted to the measurement device 7 so thatthe measurement device can store the electrode data in a database orother data store and organize that data. The identifier can identifywhere the electrode hub 25 is located on the patient's head (e.g. aparticular pre-selected location that the hub is to be positioned on ahead when the headgear 3 is worn properly for an evaluationmeasurement). The identifier can also be configured to positionallyidentify the electrode member 26 c of the hub 25 to positionallyidentify the location of the electrode members 26 c of the hub 25 forthe electrode member 26 c data being transmitted from the hub 25 to themeasurement device 7. The measurement device 7 can be configured toutilize the transmitted location data to properly map the data fromcorresponding right and left side pairs of electrodes for subsequent usein comparing right and left side passive EEG or comparing right and leftside body responses to an evoke event (e.g. a “shock”) used to collectthe data from the patient's body to evaluate a condition of the patient.

In some embodiments, the at least one circuit 26 e can include anelectrode transmission selector circuit that is configured to select theelectrode data received from a particular electrode member 26 c forsending to the measurement device 7. For instance, only the electrodedata that has the strongest signal can be selected for transmission. Inother embodiments, the at least one circuit 26 e may not include such aselector mechanism and all electrode data from all the electrode members26 c that contact the outer member 26 b can be transmittable to themeasurement device 7.

The electrode members 26 c can be positioned in the housing 26 a so thatthey are moveable from an initial position to a retracted position. Intheir initial positions, the electrode members 26 c can extend out ofthe housing for contacting a patient's head when the patient is wearingthe headgear 3. The force exerted to have the headgear 3 worn on thepatient's head and fit thereon can function to also apply a force viathe patient's head against the distal ends 26 g of the electrode members26 c to drive the electrode members 26 c to move to a retracted positionin which their proximal ends 26 h opposite their distal ends 26 g passthrough the chamber 26 d towards the outer member 26 b. Electrodemembers 26 b that get caught up in patient hair or an article ofclothing (e.g. a hair pin, a ribbon, etc.) may stop retracting to itsfully retracted position. But, other electrode members 26 c may beforced by their distal ends' contact on a patient's scalp 30 to fullyretract so their opposite proximal ends contact the outer member 26 b.The contact of the outer member 26 b can be configured to provide anelectrically conducive connection between the electrode member 26 c andthe outer member 26 b. For example, the electrode member 26 c can have ametal body (e.g. a copper body, a gold body, etc.) or a metallic outercoating over the body of the electrode member 26 c so that contact witha metal layer of the outer member 26 b that defines a sidewall of thechamber 26 d is conductively coupled upon the electrode member proximalend contacting the outer member 26 b.

Configurations in which a proximal end 26 h of the electrode members 26c contact the outer member 26 b for forming a communicative connectionto the outer member 26 b can permit electrode hubs 25 to be formedwithout the need for wires to communicatively connect the electrodemembers 26 c to the hubs 25. Wires also can be avoided for hubs 25 tocommunicatively connect to the measurement device 7 as each hub can havea transmission circuit that is configured to provide a wirelesscommunication transmission (e.g. near field communication connection,Bluetooth communication connection, short wave radio communicationconnection, etc.). The non-inclusion of wires can also provide improvedprecision and/or accuracy to collected data by decreasing artifacts ofthe data that can be present when wires are utilized in conductingsignals for communication of data from electrodes.

The independent moveability of multiple electrode members 26 c at eachhub 25 can allow for at least one electrode at each hub 25 to extendfrom the outer member 26 b to the patient's scalp (e.g. skin on thepatient's head) so that a voltage or current passed through a patient toapply a “shock” to the patient and the patient's bodily response to that“shock” can be sensed by the electrode members 26 c and measurement datarelated to that bodily response can be transmitted to measurement device7 for use in comparing the first side set of electrode hub data to thesecond side set of electrode hub data for purposes of assessing whetherthe patient has experienced a stroke or other neurological injury (e.g.a seizure). The independent moveability of the electrode members 26 ccan also (or alternatively), allow the electrode members at each hub tobe positioned for recording the electrical activity of the patient'sbrain (e.g. sensing and collection of brain electrical activity data foruse in Electroencephalography (EEG), etc.). Such collection of data bythe electrode members 26 c of such data can occur in a passive sense andthe use of the data may not necessarily be utilized as part ofevaluating the patient's response to an evoked potential.

The independent moveability of multiple electrode members 26 b at eachhub 25 helps ensure that at least one electrode member 26 c at each hub25 can be able to come into contact with a patient's scalp for makingsuitable contact with the patient's head for sensing the relevant bodilyresponse and providing measurement data to the outer member 26 b fortransmission to the measurement device 7 and/or another device (e.g. aremote device that may be wirelessly communicatively connected to thehub 25, a device that may have a wired transmission connection to thehub 25, etc.). Upon detection of such a condition, paramedic personnelmay route a patient to a stroke specialized hospital or seizurespecialized hospital and/or can advise other medical staff at a carefacility of the detected condition so that appropriate care can berapidly provided to the patient upon the patient's arrival at the carefacility.

The electrode members 26 c can be configured to be coupled to amechanical biasing mechanism (e.g. a type of spring member, a type ofelastomeric spring member, a coil spring powered device, etc.) withinthe housing 26 a that functions to mechanically bias the electrodemembers 26 c to their initial position. The mechanical biasing forceprovided by the mechanical biasing mechanism can be sufficient to causethe electrode member 26 c to move outwardly to its initial positionuntil a patient's head is contacting the electrode member 26 c. Contactwith the patient's head and the force exerted by the headgear 3 forensuring a tight fit (e.g. elastic feature of the headgear, strap(s)tightening the headgear onto the patient's head, etc.) can provide theforce needed to overcome the mechanical biasing force and permitting theelectrode member 26 c to move into the chamber 26 d and contact theouter member 26 b. The mechanical biasing mechanism can include, forexample, spring elements within holes, or passageways 26 y, of thehousing 26 a that may contact the electrode members 26 c as theelectrode members 26 c slide in and out of the chamber 26 d viapassageways 26 y that are define in the housing 26 a of the hub 25 orother portion of the hub 25. In other embodiments, no such biasingmechanism may be present. And the electrode members may slide in and outof the chamber 26 d via the passageways 26 y due to gravity or the forceof a patient's head being forced into contact with the electrodemembers' distal ends 26 g from the patient wearing the headgear 3.

The frame 23 of the headgear 3 can define the shape and look of theheadgear 3 or that frame 23 can be covered within a covering 22. Thecovering 22 can include an outer shell or a fabric or elastomericcovering that at least partially encloses the frame 23. The covering 22can be attached to the frame 23 to help facilitate the positioning ofthe headgear and/or to help attach the headgear to the patient's head sothat the headgear 3 has a tight interference fit on the patient's headwhen the headgear 3 is worn on the patient's head. The first and secondstrips 1 and 2 can be connected to the frame 23 and/or covering 22 tohelp with the positioning of the headgear on the patient's head so thatthe first and second sets of electrode hubs 25 are in the appropriatecorresponding mirrored locations on the opposite sides of the patient'shead when the headgear 3 is worn by the patient.

In other embodiments, the electrode hubs 25 can have a different type ofelectrode member 26 c. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the electrodehub 25 can include an outer member 26 b that is connected to a pluralityof telescopable electrode members 26 c that can retract from a fullyextended position to a retracted position while being connected to theouter member 26 b. Each telescopable electrode member can bemechanically biased to its extended position via a mechanical biasingmechanism (e.g. a spring device, etc.). The retraction and extension ofthe electrode members 26 c can occur over a linear path of travel from aretracted position to an extended position and vice versa. Theretraction and extension of the electrode members 26 c can also occur ina non-linear path or a path of motion that includes linear segments ofmotion and non-linear segments of motion. For example, the electrodemembers may spread out along a path of motion that is at an angle or acurved motion as they extend to the extended position and may retractaway from such a spread position along an opposite path of motion whenretracting. Each electrode member 26 c can be structured so that theproximal end is affixed to the outer member 26 b while the distal end ismoveable via a telescoping connection 26 f to the proximal end portionaffixed to the outer member 26 b (e.g. via welding, molding, adhesive,an interlocking profile, a fastening mechanism, combinations of thesame, etc.). Such a configuration can permit some electrode members 26 cto stay fully extended for contacting a scalp of a patient's headthrough the patient's hair while other electrode members 26 c mayretract due to contact with an object in the patient's hair or a thickstrand of hair that impedes the movement of the electrode member 26 csufficiently to overcome a biasing mechanism within the electrode memberthat biases the electrode member to its fully extended position. Theretraction of some electrode members 26 c that may be blocked fromcontact with a patient's scalp can permit other electrode members of theelectrode hub 25 to continue to move toward a scalp 30 for contact witha patient's skin without being effected by the blocked electrode members26 c of the electrode hub 25. The independent movement of differentelectrode members 26 c of the electrode hub 25 that is responsive topressure from a patient related object can allow the headgear 3 to beproperly positioned in a relatively tight fit on a patient's headwithout a blocked electrode member from preventing such positioning andcan also allow the electrode hub 25 to have unblocked electrode members26 c properly positioned in contact with a scalp of the patient's headto help ensure the electrode hub 25 can obtain measurement data from thepatient at the electrode hub's pre-selected position in the array ofelectrodes.

Referring to FIGS. 9-10, another alternative electrode hub 25configuration that can be utilized in different electrode hubs 25 of aheadgear 3 can include a plurality of electrode members 26 c that areattached to outer member 26 b and extend from the outer member 26 b forcontacting a patient's scalp such that the electrode members 26 c areflexible. Each of the electrode members 26 c can have a root portion 27c attached to the outer member 26 b and an inner body made of a flexiblematerial (e.g. a polymeric material, a flexible metallic material, etc.)that extends from the root portion 27 c and extends out of and away fromthe outer member 26 b. For embodiments that have an inner body 27 bcomposed of a polymeric or elastomeric material or other type ofnon-conductive material, the inner body 27 b can be coated in an outercovering that is comprised of an electrically conductive material (e.g.copper, aluminum, gold, silver, etc.). The outer covering 27 a may be arelatively thin layer of electrically conductive material that can fullyenclose at least the portion of the inner body 27 b that extends fromthe outer member 26 b to provide an electrically conductive couplingfrom the electrode member 26 c to the outer member 26 b for thetransmission of measurement data. The inner body 27 b can besufficiently thick relative to the outer covering 27 a so that theflexibility of the inner body 27 b can permit the electrode member toflexibly move around any hair or other element that may be present on apatient's head that could pose a blockage element that could prevent theelectrode member's distal end from contacting the scalp of the patient.The outer covering 27 a can be configured as a film, an enclosing layer,coating, or other type of covering. The flexible motion of the electrodemember 26 c can allow the electrode member to bend or flex aroundobjects or to compress in response to a blocking element such that atleast some of the electrode members 26 c are able to have their distalends 26 g contact the patient's scalp when the headgear 3 is worn by apatient in the desired location on the patient's head.

In yet other embodiments, the electrode members 26 c can be composed ofan electrically conductive material (e.g. gold, silver, copper,aluminum, etc.) and can be structured to be flexible without requiringuse of an outer covering 27 a. Such flexibility can be configured due tothe length, width, and thickness of the electrode member. For suchembodiments, the proximate end of each electrode member can be attachedto an outer member 26 b at a root portion 27 c and have an oppositedistal end that is for contacting the scalp of a patient's head.

In yet other embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14-20,the distal end 26 g of each electrode member can include a plurality offlexible members 26 z that are configured to bend or flex around objectsor to compress in response to a blocking element such that at least someof the electrode members 26 c are able to have their distal ends 26 gcontact the patient's scalp 30 when the headgear 3 is worn by a patientin the desired location on the patient's head.

In other embodiments, such as the embodiments shown in FIGS. 14-20 and6-8, the proximal end 26 h of each electrode member 26 c can be moveablefrom a first position in which the proximate end is spaced apart fromthe outer member 26 b and a second position in which the proximal end 26h is in contact with the outer member 26 b. The proximal end 26 h can bemoveable to any of a number of different third intermediate positionsbetween the first and second positions as well. The path of motion ofthe electrode members can be defined by a part of a housing 26 a thatdefines a chamber 26 d in which the proximal ends 26 h are moveable. Forinstance, a portion of the housing 26 a can define passageways 26 y.Each passageway 26 y can define a path of motion about which theelectrode member pensionable within that passageway is moveable into andout of the chamber 26 d and/or between the first and second positions ofthe electrode member 26 c. The path of motion for the electrode membercan be defined so that the electrode members move linearly between theirfirst and second positions or move in a non-linear fashion (e.g.passageway 26 y can be defined to be a straight passageway through whicha portion of the electrode member 26 c is passable or can be structuredto define a curved passageway through which a portion of the electrodemember 26 c is passable, etc.). The outer member 26 b having at leastone transmission circuit 26 e can be incorporated into the housing 26 ato help define a part of this chamber 26 d so that the proximal ends 26h can be moved into contact with the outer member 26 b or can be movedinto contact with an element of the hub housing 26 a that defines thechamber 26 d that is conductively connected to the outer member 26 b sothat, upon contact of the proximal ends with that element, the electrodemember 26 c is conductively connected to the outer member 26 b and theat least one circuit 26 e of the outer member 26 b.

In some embodiments, it is contemplated that a proximal end 26 h of eachelectrode member can include a stop body 26 i that can be positionablewithin the chamber 26 d and be configured to receive proximal end 26 hof the electrode member 26 c when the member moves from its firstinitial position to its second position. The stop body 26 i can becomposed of a conductive material. The stop body 26 i can be sized sothat it cannot pass through the passageway 26 y through which a portionof the electrode member is passable. The stop body 26 i can beconfigured as a root portion to help keep that root portion within thechamber 26 d. In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the stop body26 i can moveably receive a portion of the electrode member 26 c withina groove or cavity such that the a portion of the electrode member 26 ccan move within the stop body 26 i as the electrode member passesthrough the passageway 26 y when moving between its first and secondpositions. In other embodiments, a portion of the electrode member 26 cmay be affixed in a non-moving attachment to the stop body 26 i of theproximal end 26 h of the electrode member 26 c.

Referring to FIGS. 21-26, each electrode hub 25 can include a housing 26a that includes a compressible portion that defines a collapsible cavity33 therein. The cavity 33 can retain a conductive fluid material EF(e.g. a gel, a liquid, a slurry, etc.). The conductive fluid material EFcan be comprised of at least one electrolyte. The electrolyte caninclude, for example, salt (e.g. NaCl) or other type of conductivematerial (e.g. flakes of a conductive metal (e.g. silver, gold, orcopper, etc.), solid particulates of a conductive material such ascopper, gold, or aluminum, etc.) within a liquid (e.g. liquid water) ora gel composition (e.g. aloe vera gel, a silicone gel, etc.) having acomposition that provides for electrical conductivity. Example gels caninclude a thickened aqueous mixture and a salt or polarizing substancethat are present in a sufficient concentration to facilitate the makingof electrical contact with the skin of a patient to help improve theelectrode member conductive connection with the skin to try and limitareas of poor or intermittent contact, which, when present, can resultin the generation of spurious electrical signals. Example of such a gelare disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,406,827 and 5,348,686.

The cavity 33 can be a chamber 35 that is defined by a top portion orupper portion of the housing of the hub 25 that is in communication withelectrode members 26 c so that the conductive fluid material stored inor retained in the cavity 33 can be passed out of the cavity 33, throughthe electrode members 26 c, and emitted out of discharge holes 37 of theelectrode members 26 c. The one or more discharge holes 37 for eachelectrode member 26 c can be positioned on at least one side of theelectrode member 26 c.

In some embodiments, each electrode member 26 c can have only a singledischarge hole 37. In other embodiments, there may be multiple differentdischarge holes 37 positioned along a length of the outer surface of theelectrode member 26 c. The discharge holes 37 can be in fluidcommunication with channels 39 defined inside the electrode member 26that are positioned around a conductor 32 of the electrode member 26 c.The channels 39 can be defined by splines, fluid conduit memberspositioned in the body of the electrode member 26 c, insert members,portions of the electrode member 26 c, or other fluid conduit definingelement positioned inside the electrode member 26 c that is in fluidcommunication with the cavity 33. The outermost surface of the electrodemember 26 c that encloses the conductor 32 so that one or more channels39 are defined between the outermost surface and the conductor 32 caninclude a film or conductive coating on a hollow outer structure) insome embodiments (e.g. a polymeric tubular structure having such acoating on its outer surface, etc.)

In some embodiments, the channels 39 can be defined by hollow spines orother fluid conduit defining element positioned in the electrode member26 c between the outermost surface of the electrode member and theconductor 32. The hollow spines can be in fluid communication with thecavity 33 and the discharge holes 37 so that fluid is passable from thecavity 33 and out of the discharge holes 37 via the channels 39 definedby the splines. In other embodiments, each electrode member 26 c canhave a single annular channel (indicated by broken line as singleannular channel 39 a in FIGS. 23 and 24) defined between the conductor32 and the outer surface of the electrode member 26 c that is in fluidcommunication with one or more discharge holes 37 and the cavity 33.

The channels 39 and discharge holes 37 can be designed and configured sothat the conductive fluid material EF that can be output from the cavity33 is directed out of the discharge holes 37 at a desired flow rate anddirection so that the conductive fluid material EF flows along apre-selected flow path 41 to a pre-selected target area 43 on a scalp 30of a patient or on a surface that the conductor members 26 c can becontacting or engaging. The flow path 41 can be configured to define acentralization flow path 41 a to direct the conductive fluid materialtoward a central target area 43 that may be aligned with a center of theelectrode hub 25 between the electrode members 26 c extending from thathub. In other embodiments, the flow path 41 can be configured to definea non-centralized flow path 41 b to direct the flow rate and directionof the conductive fluid material to a non-centralized target area 43.Some electrode arrays of headgear 3 can be configured to utilize acentralized target area 43 via a centralization flow path 41 a whileothers may be configured to direct the conductive fluid material to anoff-center target area 43 via a non-centralized flow path 41 b. Otherembodiments can be configured so that all the electrode hubs 25 utilizethe same type of flow path configuration.

The flowing of the conductive fluid material EF along a flow path 41 toa target area 43 can cause the conductive fluid material to bepositioned on the scalp of a patient or other skin surface of thepatient along the entirety of the flow path 41. For example, as theconductive fluid material flows to the target area, a portion of theconductive fluid material may be left behind to reside on the skinsurface that is along the flow path due to friction and/or otherproperty of the conductive fluid material (e.g. viscosity, etc.). Theuse of the flow paths and the directing of the flow paths toward atarget area 43 can permit the conductive fluid material to bedistributed throughout an entire region between the discharge holes andthe target area 43. The conductive fluid material EF can also spread outas it moves along the flow path to the target area 43 (e.g. some of theconductive fluid material can move laterally as the conductive fluidmaterial moves in a flow direction toward the target area 43 such thatthe conductive fluid material spreads out as it moves in a flowdirection along the flow path as indicated by spreading out indicators44 in FIGS. 25-26). Such a spreading out can occur from a thickness ofthe conductive fluid material that may be emitted from the dischargeholes 37 changing as the conductive fluid material moves along a scalpdue to gravity's effect on the conductive fluid material, the viscosityof the conductive fluid material, and the flow rate of the conductivefluid material moving along the patient's skin. The spreading out canoccur in a direction that is transverse to and/or perpendicular to thedirection at which the conductive fluid material flows toward the targetarea 43.

While the conductive fluid material EF may be moved in the flowdirection dictated by the discharge hole 37, the spreading out can alsobe defined by the dimensions of the discharge holes to help define adesired conductive fluid material deposition occurring as the conductivefluid material moves along the flow paths 41 to the target area 43. Forexample, material discharged out of smaller sized discharge holes 37 canhave a smaller stream size and spread out less as the material movesalong its flow path 41 as compared to conductive fluid material emittedout of larger sized discharge holes 37. Further, the flow rate of theconductive fluid material discharged out of the larger discharger holesmay be slower than the flow rate of material discharged out of smallerholes (in which the same force is applied for driving the conductivefluid material out of cavity 33 for emission out of the discharge holes37). The size and dimensions of the channels 39 and discharge holes 37can be configured to provide a desired flow path 41 as well as apre-selected material spread out pattern to provide a pre-selectedconductive fluid material deposition area via flowing of the conductivefluid material along the flow paths 41 to the target area 43.

The flow rate of the conductive fluid material EF can be set based onhow the cavity 33 is compressed from an uncompressed state to acompressed state in addition to the size and configuration of thechannels 39 and the discharge holes 37. In some embodiments, theregulation or actuation of such a compression can be achieved manuallyby a user pressing on the collapsible housing 26 a of each hub 25 tocollapse the cavity 33 at different times to push the conductive fluidmaterial out of the cavity 33 and through the channels 39 so it isemitted out of discharge holes 37 along a flow path 41. Alternatively,each electrode hub 25 can include a mechanical collapsing actuator thatcan be configured to contact the housing 26 a of the hub body 26 andengage the housing 26 a to collapse the cavity 33 within the housing 26a for pushing the conductive fluid material out of the cavity and out ofthe discharge holes 37 via the channels 39. Such a mechanical collapsingactuator can be a piston mechanism, a gas spring, a pressing lever, orother type of actuation mechanism that may contact conductive fluidmaterial in the cavity 33 to drive motion of the material out of thecavity 33. In some embodiments, the cavity 33 may not collapse when theconductive fluid material is driven out of the cavity. Instead, a pistonmember or other flow directing member may move within the cavity 33 toeffectively shrink the size of the cavity to push conductive fluidmaterial out of the cavity.

The housing 26 a defining the cavity 33 or chamber within the housing 26a defining the cavity 33 can be composed of a flexible or resilientmaterial so that the housing 26 a and electrode members 26 c can be usedrepeatedly. For example, the housing 26 a can be configured to move intoa collapsed state and subsequently resiliently return to theuncollapsed, expanded state, after the force used to collapse the cavity33 is removed. More conductive fluid material can then be inserted intothe cavity for the electrode hub to be reused (e.g. a removable cap 34can be provided on the housing to permit the cavity 33 to be accessedfor refilling the conductive fluid material into the cavity via athreaded connection between the cap and the housing 26 a or other typeof releasable attachment mechanism).

Alternatively, the cavity 33 can be collapsible into one or moreintermediate collapsed states before being moved to a fully collapsedstate. Initial collapsing of the cavity 33 can be utilized for a firstmeasurement. The cavity 33 can then be further collapsed to applyfurther conductive fluid material out of the discharge holes 37 forrepeated uses until the cavity 33 is fully collapsed. Once fullycollapsed, the housing 26 a can be structured so that the electrode hubmust be replaced with a new hub or so that the cavity is resilientlymoveable back to an initial uncompressed position by removing of thecompressing force used to collapse the cavity 33 so that the cavity canbe re-filled with conductive fluid material for further uses of theelectrode hub 25.

Embodiments of the electrode hub 25 utilizing the discharge holes 37 foremitting conductive fluid material for flowing that fluid toward atarget area 43 and having that material spread out as it flows towardthat target area can also permit the electrode member 26 c to beimpregnated with the conductive fluid material so that the conductivefluid material contacts patient skin and conductor 32 of the electrodemember 26 c for providing an improved electrically conductive connectionbetween the patient's skin and the electrode member 26 c. For example,when the conductive fluid material is passed from the cavity 33 and outof the discharge holes 37, a remainder impregnation portion of theconductive fluid material 33 can be retained in the one or more channelsthat surround the conductor 32 and also be present at a distal edge 26 gof the electrode member 26 c that is to be positioned for contacting orengaging the patient's head for an electrically conductive connection tothe patient's skin. The portion of the conductive fluid material EF thatis at the distal edge 26 g of the electrode member 26 c can be passedthere via a discharge hole at the distal edge 26 g or by some of theconductive fluid material passing out of a discharge hole on a side ofthe electrode member and moving along the outer surface of the electrodemember 26 c to the distal edge. The conductive fluid material can beconfigured to help provide an environment on the patient's skin adjacentthe electrode member 26 c that provides an ionic conductive path toallow for the capture of the patient's bioelectric signals via theelectrode member 26 c.

The use of the conductive fluid material being passed through theelectrode member 26 c can permit the electrode members 26 c of theelectrode hub 25 to function as a wet or semi-wet electrode in which theconductive fluid material is applied at the site of contact orengagement between the electrode members 26 c and the patient's skininstead of having to be applied prior to placement of the electrodes ona patient via a separate applicator mechanism (e.g. a tube of gel orliquid being squeezed to apply the material on a site at which anelectrode is to subsequently be placed, etc.).

In some alternative embodiments, the cavity 33 that is collapsible fordelivering conductive fluid material out of one or more discharge holes37 can be collapsible without an external housing 26 a of the electrodehub 25 being compressed. For instance, there may be an internal pistonmechanism within the housing 26 a that can be actuated for motion todrive conductive fluid material out of the cavity 33 via pressing abutton on the external surface of the housing 26 a that is attached to apiston mechanism to facilitate movement of a piston member to drive aflow of the conductive fluid material out of a cavity 33 inside thehousing 26 a through the channels 39 and out of at least one dischargehole 27. A spring or other type of biasing mechanism can be connectedbetween the piston member and the button to bias the button to aninitial position (e.g. a non-depressed position). Such embodiments canbe configured to facilitate refilling a cavity 33 with material when thebutton is in a non-depressed position for embodiments that are designedfor repeated uses.

In yet other embodiments, a piston mechanism can be actuatable via acontroller that can receive control signals from a controller device viaa wireless communication connection (e.g. Bluetooth or near filedcommunication connection) or a wired connection. Actuation of the pistonmechanism in such embodiments can be effected via a user manipulating abutton or other input mechanism of a measurement device 7 for example.

In yet other embodiments, conductive fluid material EF can be providedvia use of an injector device P that may be releaseably attached to theheadgear 3. The injector device can be, for example, a syringe, aninjector pen, or other type of injector that has a reservoir ofconductive fluid material EF that is injectable out of the device. Theinjection of fluid can be actuated by a manual pressing on a plunger orother type of injection actuation mechanism of the injector device P.The injector device P can be configured to be releasably connectable tothe headgear 3 via clasp, a resiliently receiving jaw that is configuredto resiliently hold the injector device P, a receptacle connected to theheadgear, or other type of releasable connection mechanism. The injectordevice P can be configured so that it is reusable for applyingconductive fluid material EF multiple times or be configured as a singleuse device that is to be replaced with a new injector device after theinjector device is used to apply conductive fluid material EF onto apatient's head or onto electrode members 26 c prior to the headgearbeing positioned on a patient's head.

The injector device P can be configured so that the injector device canbe pulled off of the headgear and actuated so that conductive fluidmaterial EF is positioned on sites on the scalp 30 at which theelectrode hubs are to be positioned. Alternatively (or in addition), theconductive fluid material EF can also be injected onto the distal endsor other portion of electrode members 26 c prior to the headgear beingpositioned on a patient. The application of the conductive fluidmaterial EF may occur prior to any testing of a patient is performed.Alternatively (or in addition), the use of the injector device P toapply the conductive fluid material EF may occur in response to anidentification of a poor quality or unacceptable electrically conductiveconnection at one or more of the electrode hubs (e.g. seeing LEDindicator 261 in a red or yellow color as discussed herein, observingelectrode indicia 9 c in a red or yellow color as discussed herein,etc.). In response to identifying a poor quality connection, theheadgear 3 can be removed from a patient and the injector device can beremoved from the headgear and used to inject conductive fluid materialEF onto the patient and/or on to the electrode hubs (e.g. at leastelectrode members of the hubs that had the poor quality connections).

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, testing or evaluation of a patient viameasurement device 7 and headgear 3 with electrode arrays 25 can beprovided in which certain electrode members 26 c are used in aparticular measurement for a patient. In such methods, a selection canbe made in a passive or active configuration so that only certainelectrode members 26 c, or certain electrode hubs 25 are utilized for aparticular evaluation or measurement. In some embodiments, certain hubsmay be selected. In other embodiments, all the hubs 25 may be utilized,but certain electrode members 26 c of the hubs 25 may not be utilizedwhile other electrode members 26 c at each hub 25 are used. Thedetermination of which electrode members 26 c are to be used (or whichmeasurement data from which electrode members 26 c or hubs 25 is to beused) in a measurement or an evaluation can be determined at the hub 25or at the measurement device 7. The selection of which electrode members26 c are to be used can occur prior to the providing of an evoke eventby a patient being administered a “shock” (e.g. a current or voltage) toevoke a response to that “shock”. The selection can alternatively occurat the time the “shock” is administered to the patient or aftermeasurement data is received from electrode members 26 c concerning thepatient's response to the “shock” at the outer member 26 b or at themeasurement device 7.

The selection of electrode members 26 c or hubs 25 can also (oralternatively) occur prior to, during, or after, the electrode members26 c or hubs 25 being utilized for collecting electrical activity dataof a patient's brain that can be utilized for EEG. The use of theelectrode members 26 c or hub for EEG purposes can occur without anyneed or desire to evaluate a patient's response to an evoked potentialand/or can occur in connection with such a diagnostic procedure.

In some embodiments, some electrode members 26 c may not be positionedin contact with the scalp of a patient's head due to hair or otherblockage element. Such electrode members may not provide any signal tothe outer members 26 b having at least one circuit 26 e. Each circuitcan include at least one conductor 31. Such electrode members 26 c maynot be used for recording and/or transmitting any data to a measurementdevice 7. Such electrode members 26 c may not be selected for useautomatically due to their non-signal providing positioning. Theselection of the electrode members 26 c that contact the patient's scalpcan occur automatically as data is only collected and provided by theseelectrode members 26 c.

In some embodiments, some electrode members 26 c at each hub 25 maycontact the patient's scalp and conduct sensed data concerning thepatient's response to the evoke event induced via the shock to the outermember 26 b of the hub 25. The outer member 26 b may have a selectioncircuit that only transmits the electrode member 26 c that provides thestrongest signal or may only transmit electrode member 26 c data from apre-selected number of the electrode members 26 c that have a signalstrength over a pre-selected threshold for transmission to themeasurement device 7 for selecting which electrode members 26 c of theelectrode array to utilize for measuring patient body data concerningthe evoke event, or “shock”. Such a selection can also occur when theelectrode member 26 c is used for passively monitoring electricalactivity of a patient's brain for EEG.

In yet other embodiments, the electrode members 26 c at each hub 25 thatcontact a patient's scalp and collect data concerning patient electricalbrain activity and subsequently transmit data to the outer member 26 bcan have that data transmitted to the measurement device 7 via atransmission circuit of the outer member 26 b. The measurement device 7can receive all this data and utilize all that data or only apre-selected set of this data for comparing data from left-sideelectrode hubs 25 to the data received from the right-side electrodehubs 25. All received data may be utilized or only data from eachelectrode member 26 c that meets a pre-selected set of criteria may beused. This criteria can include signal strength for a corresponding pairof electrode members 26 c of a corresponding pair of electrode hubs 25being at or exceeding a particular threshold. The criteria can alsoinclude, or instead include, some other information (e.g. a detectedimpedance match between corresponding pairs, etc.). In yet otherembodiments, electrode member pairs can be selected such that individualelectrode members 26 c of a hub can be matched with a specific electrodemember 26 c of a corresponding hub 25 at a mirror image location on thepatient's head so that the electrode member pairs can be matched.

In some embodiments, the electrode members to be selected can be theelectrode members 26 c that have a signal strength that has a differencethat is less than 10% of the average, or mean, signal strength for theelectrode members of a hub or that is less than a 20% difference fromthe mean signal strength. Such selection can be used in embodiments thatutilized impedance matching for the selection criteria for the electrodemembers 26 c, for example.

The selection and grouping of corresponding electrode hubs 25 and/orelectrode members 26 c need not be limited to particular pairs. Forexample, multiple electrode members 26 c from multiple different hubs 25can be grouped together so that there is not just a pair ofcorresponding electrode members 26 c that are selected or defined ascorresponding with each other. For instance, corresponding electrodemembers 26 c for each hub 25 can be selected to that particularelectrode members 26 c of multiple different hubs are selected to beingwithin a corresponding set of electrode members 26 c. For example, theleft ear hub, front left hub, and rear left hub can each have anelectrode member 26 c (e.g. their electrode member having the strongestsignal) within a first group of corresponding left side electrodemembers and the right ear hub, front right hub, and rear front hub caneach have an electrode member in a second group of corresponding rightside electrode members (e.g. each hub's electrode member having thestrongest signal). The first and second groups of electrode members 26 ccan define a first set of corresponding right side and left sideelectrode members. Each such set can also be defined to further specifyspecific corresponding pairs within the first set (e.g. left and rightear hub electrode members can be a particular pair within the first set,etc.). There can be multiple such groupings for defining different setsof different electrode members for the left and right side hubs (e.g. afirst set can have a grouping of the electrode members with thestrongest signals, the second set can have a grouping of the electrodemembers with the second strongest signals, etc.). As discussed herein,identification information included in the electrode member datatransmitted to the measurement device 7 can identify the location ofeach electrode member 26 c or hub 25 for use in forming the differentelectrode member groupings and identification and selection of variouspairs and/or sets of electrode members 26 c.

In yet other embodiments, the measurement device 7 can be configured toselect which left and right side electrode pairs or electrode member 26c pairs within different electrode hubs 25 on the patient's head to beused based on impedance matching to select the best sets of pairs. The“best” pairs that match impedance values from a pre-selection routinerun via the measurement device before an evoke event is triggered in thepatient can occur so that the pairs that have the best impedance matchare used for collecting the patient data and transmitting that data tothe measurement device 7. The criteria for selecting the best pairs caninclude selection of only a single best pair, the top two best pairs,the top three best pairs, or some other pre-selected number of “best”pairs that have the closest impedance matches. After the best pairs areselected, the patient may be “shocked” via passing a current or voltagethrough the patient and the electrode pairs that were selected can beused to record data relating to the patient's response to the “shock”event for transmission to the measurement device 7 so that a comparisonof the responses the left and right sides of the patient's head had tothe event can be made to determine whether the patient has undergone astroke or seizure. Additionally (or as an alternative), the best pairsthat are selected may be utilized to collect data for use in EEG priorto, after, and/or without involvement of any evoked potential beingpassed through the patient's body. When the patient is detected ashaving experienced a condition (e.g. a stroke), the patient can berouted by emergency care personnel or other health care personnel to theappropriate location within a care facility or to an appropriate carefacility for treatment.

In some embodiments, the pairs of electrode members 26 c or pairs ofhubs 25 can be utilized to select a reference electrode hub (orreference electrode member 26 c) and ground electrode hub 25 (or groundelectrode member 26 c) as well. Selecting which pair of electrode hubs25 or electrode members 26 c for use as ground and reference electrodescan decrease the likelihood of a bad test that could result from poorlyplaced reference electrode. The selection criteria made to select thereference and ground electrode hubs 25 of electrode members 26 c of hubs25 can be utilized prior to any testing or data recording beingperformed. The measurement device 7 can be configured to make such aselection based on at least one of the following selection criteria:electrode member pair or electrode hub pair having the closest impedancematch between electrodes, electrode member pair or electrode hub pairhaving the strongest signals, and/or other criteria.

In some embodiments, each electrode hub 25 of the headgear 3 can have atleast one LED indicator 261 that is configured to illuminate light in aparticular color (e.g. green) when there is a good electrical connectionbetween the patient's head and at least one electrode member 26 c of thehub 25. If the electrical connection is below a first pre-selectedthreshold that may define a good connection, the LED indicator 261 mayturn a second color (e.g. yellow) and if the electrical connection isbelow a second pre-selected threshold that is below the first thresholdand may define a non-connection or an unsuitable connection, the LEDindicator 261 may turn a third color (e.g. red).

In some embodiments, the first pre-selected threshold can be anelectrical conductivity resistance threshold that is 5,000 ohms or avalue in the range of 2,500 ohms to 10,000 ohms and the secondpre-selected threshold can be an electrical conductivity resistancethreshold of 30,000 ohms or a value in the range of 15,000 ohms to40,000 ohms. Other values could alternatively be selected for the firstand second pre-selected thresholds to account for a particular type ofelectrode configuration or to meet a particular set of design criteria.In yet other embodiments, the threshold may be a value that is inanother unit of measure (e.g. volts or amps). The unit of measure thatis utilized for the threshold detection values can be based on the typeof sensor or detection methodology utilized for assessing theelectrically conductive connection between an electrode member 26 c andthe patient's scalp 30.

For embodiments that may select electrode hubs or electrode members 26 cfor use in a test of a neurological condition based on impedancematching, the color indication thresholds can be based on an evaluationof how electrode members deviate from an average value instead of usingan absolute value threshold value. Such thresholds can be utilized forLED indicator 261 illumination and/or for illumination of electrodeindicia 9 c or other indicia that may be displayed to a user for helpingthe user assess the acceptability of the position of headgear 3 orconnection quality of electrode members 26 c as discussed herein. Forinstance, if the electrode members of a particular hub include electrodemembers that are within 10% of a mean value for the entire array ofelectrodes, the indicator for a particular hub may be illuminated in afirst color (e.g. green). If the electrode members of a particular hubinclude electrode members that are within 20% of a mean value for theentire array of electrodes and also have a difference that is greaterthan 10%, the indicator for a particular hub may be illuminated in asecond color (e.g. yellow). If the electrode members of a particular hubinclude electrode members that all have a difference that is greaterthan 20% from the mean value for the entire array of electrodes, theindicator for that electrode hub may be illuminated in a third color(e.g. red). Such thresholds can be used for illumination of LEDindicators 261 and/or electrode indicia 9 c, for example.

It should be appreciated that in some embodiments there may be a singleLED indicator 261 for each electrode hub 25 and in other embodimentsthere may be more than one such indicator for a hub 25 (e.g. there maybe an indicator for each electrode member 26 c of a hub that isconnected to outer member 26 b of the hub to be visible when the patientwears headgear 3 to provide a visual indication of which electrode hubs25 or electrode members 26 c are in a desired position and/or have asuitable connection for use in an evaluation. The electrode indicia 9 cutilized in different displays can also be provided so that there is asingle indicator for each hub 25 or so that there is a single indicatorfor each electrode member 26 c.

The use of electrode hubs having multiple electrode members (which mayall be independently moveable for contacting a patient scalp) can be auseful approach for using the law of big numbers to try and obtain asufficiently good (or acceptable) connection at a pre-selected set ofcorresponding left and right side locations on patient for performing aneurological condition detection test utilizing an evoke potential event(e.g. a “shock”). by use of a large number of electrode members via thehubs, the law of big numbers and randomness can be leveraged to allowfor high likelihood that headgear 3 positioning will result in providinga sufficient electrical conductivity connection between the neurologicaltesting apparatus (e.g. measurement device 7) and the electrode sensorsof the apparatus (e.g. hubs 25 and/or electrode members 26 c) used toevaluate a patient's response for assessing the patient's condition.This can allow for a more reliable use of the apparatus and avoid theneed for running multiple tests on a patient to assess the patient'scondition, which can be of particular importance in emergency situationsin which delays in a patient receiving care at an appropriate carefacility can have dire health consequences.

It should be appreciated that different embodiments of an electrodearray, electrode headgear, neurological condition detection device canutilize different arrangements to meet a particular set of designcriteria. For instance, it should be appreciated that some components,features, and/or configurations may be described in connection with onlyone particular embodiment, but these same components, features, and/orconfigurations can be applied or used with many other embodiments andshould be considered applicable to the other embodiments, unless statedotherwise or unless such a component, feature, and/or configuration istechnically impossible to use with the other embodiment. Thus, thecomponents, features, and/or configurations of the various embodimentscan be combined together in any manner and such combinations areexpressly contemplated and disclosed by this statement. Therefore, whilecertain exemplary embodiments of headgear, electrodes, electrode arrays,neurological condition detection mechanisms, and methods of making andusing the same have been shown and described above, it is to bedistinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but maybe otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for the symmetrical placement ofelectrodes comprising: headgear, an array of electrodes attached to theheadgear; a first strip positioned on an outer top surface of theheadgear that extends from a front of the headgear to a rear of theheadgear; the first strip defining a centerline indicator; and a secondstrip attached to the front of the headgear or the rear of the headgear,the second strip having a first end positioned adjacent a right side ofthe headgear and a second end positioned adjacent a left side of theheadgear, the second strip extending linearly and horizontally from thefirst end of the second strip to the second end of the second strip. 2.The device of claim 1, wherein the second strip is positioned adjacentthe headgear such that the second strip is level as it extendshorizontally from the first end of the second strip to the second end ofthe second strip.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the second strip isattached to the front of the headgear, the device also comprising: athird strip attached to the rear of the headgear, the third strip havinga first end positioned adjacent a right side of the headgear and asecond end positioned adjacent a left side of the headgear, the thirdstrip extending linearly and horizontally from the first end of thethird strip to the second end of the third strip.
 4. The device of claim1, wherein the first strip has a first color and the second strip has asecond color.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first strip has anarc shape.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the second strip isrectangular shaped.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the second stripis attached to the headgear such that a midpoint of the second strip ispositioned on a front end portion of the first strip or a rear endportion of the first strip.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the secondstrip is attached to the headgear such that a midpoint of the secondstrip is positioned to be coincident to a central portion of theheadgear and is positioned above a nose of a patient when the headgearis positioned on a head of the patient.
 9. A method for positioningelectrodes, the method comprising: positioning headgear on a head of apatient so that electrodes attached to the headgear engage the head ofthe patient when the headgear is on the head of the patient, a firststrip positioned on an outer top surface of the headgear that extendsfrom a front of the headgear to a rear of the headgear, a second stripattached to the front of the headgear or the rear of the headgear, thesecond strip having a first end positioned adjacent a right side of theheadgear and a second end positioned adjacent a left side of theheadgear, the second strip extending linearly and horizontally from thefirst end of the second strip to the second end of the second strip; andadjusting the headgear based on how the first strip and the second stripappear to adjust the headgear so that the first strip is centered on atop of the head of the patient.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein thesecond strip is attached to the headgear such that a midpoint of thesecond strip is positioned on a front end portion of the first strip ora rear end portion of the first strip.
 11. The method of claim 9,wherein the second strip is attached to the headgear such that amidpoint of the second strip is positioned to be coincident to a centralportion of the headgear and is positioned above a nose of a patient whenthe headgear is positioned on a head of the patient.
 12. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the second strip is attached to the headgear such thata midpoint of the second strip is aligned with a front end portion ofthe first strip or a rear end portion of the first strip.
 13. The methodof claim 9, wherein the adjusting of the headgear comprises: visuallyinspecting the first strip and the second strip to determine whether thefirst strip is at a central location on the head of the patient; andmoving the headgear based on the visual inspection of the first stripand the second strip to center the first strip on the center of the headof the patient.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second strip islevel.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the second strip has anindicator at a midpoint of the second strip along a length of the secondstrip that extends from the first end of the second strip to the secondend of the second strip, the method also comprising: using the indicatorto identify that the second strip is centrally positioned adjacent apatient's head to confirm the first strip is centrally positioned on thehead of the patient.
 16. The method of claim 9, wherein the adjusting ofthe headgear comprises: visually inspecting the first strip and thesecond strip to determine whether the first strip is at a centrallocation on the head of the patient; and in response to determining thatthe second strip is off-center such that a midpoint along a length ofthe second strip is closer to a right side of the patient as compared toa left side of the patient, moving the headgear such that the midpointis moved closer to the left side of the patient to move the midpointcloser to the central location.
 17. The method of claim 16, comprising:visually inspecting the first strip and the second strip to determinewhether the first strip is at the central location after the headgear ismoved to move the midpoint closer to the left side of the patient; inresponse to determining that the second strip is off-center such thatthe midpoint is closer to the left side of the patient as compared tothe right side of the patient, moving the headgear so that the midpointis moved closer to the right side of the patient to move the midpointcloser to the central location.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein thesecond strip has an indicator at the midpoint of the second strip tovisibly indicate the midpoint at a center of the length of the secondstrip.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the indicator is a visibledot, a protuberance on the second strip, or a recess defined in thesecond strip.
 20. The method of claim 9, wherein the adjusting of theheadgear comprises: visually inspecting the first strip and the secondstrip to determine whether the first strip is at a central location onthe head of the patient; in response to determining that the secondstrip is off-center such that a midpoint along a length of the secondstrip is closer to the left side of the patient as compared to the rightside of the patient, moving the headgear so that the midpoint is movedcloser to the right side of the patient to move the midpoint closer tothe central location.